IN MEMORIAM: Mary Ann Ashe, 78;
LPN Served Oneontans For Decades
ONEONTA – Mary Ann Ashe, 78, an LPN in Oneonta facilities for many years, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016.
She was born Dec. 10, 1937, in Bainbridge, the daughter of George and Evelyn (Coon) Diehl. She graduated from Sidney Central School.
Mary Ann married Philip C. Ashe on May 24, 1958, at the Methodist Church in Sidney.
As a licensed practical nurse, Mary Ann worked for several years at Homer Folks Hospital until its closing in 1973. After that she work in the Physical Therapy Department of the Oneonta Nursing Home on Chestnut Street until her retirement in 1993.
Mary Ann was very active in square dancing and was a member of the Retreads. She found true pleasure in volunteering her time at the Riverside Elementary School. She could be found making flashcards to running the school’s store. She knew the importance of a good education and had a genuine respect for the teaching profession. Both her father and husband were school teachers.
She enjoyed spending hours in her perennial (Lupines) beds that lined her driveway. Along with basket weaving and scrapbooking, Mary Ann found enjoyment in crocheting. Each Christmas, she fondly gave out her handmade creations. Mary Ann was a lady who definitely enjoyed her “goodies” (sweets) – her cookie jar was always full of freshly baked cookies.
For the past 15 years, Mary Ann was very active in the Pumpkin Hollow Maple business with her son, Charlie and dear friends, Ronnie and Dorothy Beers. You could find Mary Ann and Phil many Saturday mornings peddling their maple products at the Cooperstown Farmer’s Market.
Mary Ann dearly loved her beautiful grandsons. She enjoyed the family vacations at Moosehead Lake in Rockwood, Maine, where she spent countless hours with the boys hiking into Moxie Falls, boating over to Mount Kineo and Pebble Beach, swimming in Barrows Cove, and out every evening trying to catch a glimpse of a moose.
She is survived by her son, Charles W. Ashe and wife, Patricia Lawson Ashe of East Meredith; her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Anderson and husband, Jon Anderson of Oneonta, and their sons Andrew and Austin; sister-in-law, Patricia Ashe of Oneonta; niece, Margaret Wikoff; nephews, Harold (and Becky) Ashe and Timothy (and Kathy) Ashe; and special caregiver and friend, Sue Kirby.
She was predeceased by her husband, Philip on Sept. 9, 2010.
Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.
A private graveside service will take place Thursday, October 6, 2016 at the Oneonta Plains Cemetery.
Mary Ann’s family would like to express our sincere thanks to her caregivers at Chestnut Park and Hampshire House.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to www.lhpfuneralhome.com.