Alice M. Oakes

ALICE M. OAKES

HORNELL-Alice M. Oakes, 101, formerly of East Main St., passed away peacefully, in the presence of her loving family, late Wednesday evening (April 14, 2010) at St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell.
Born in Sparta on June 30, 1908, she was one of six daughters born to Nathan and Bertha Kiehle Moose. On July 1, 1944 she was married in Dansville to Lewis Oakes, who predeceased her in 1965 after 21 years of marriage. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her three sisters, Mary Mahus, Shirley Fantaci and Ethel Moose; also her son-in-law, Lawrence Wassink, Jr.
A former resident of Sparta and Dansville, Alice has resided in Hornell for most of her life. She graduated from high school in Dansville and received her teacher’s certification from Geneseo Normal School.
She taught for one year in the same one room schoolhouse she attended as a child before she began teaching fourth grade for the Dansville School District. She later retired from Arkport Central School where she was a kindergarten teacher. While raising her family she was also a substitute teacher for the City of Hornell School District.
Alice was a member of the former First Church of Christ, Scientist in Hornell where she served as a first and second reader. Her other memberships included, the D.A.R., where she served as treasurer and past president, the Hornell Fortnightly Club, the Book Club, the Dansville Grange, where she was a member for more than 80 years and was also instrumental in forming the Junior Grange in Hornell, the Hornell Home Bureau, and was a former leader for the Hornell Campfire Girls.
Some of her favorite past times included traveling extensively throughout the world and making scrapbooks about her trips, doing genealogy for the Moose, Kiehle and Oakes families, attending many of the annual Moose family reunions, photography, growing various types of plants, knitting, sewing, crocheting, needlework, quilting, painting, as well as making and contributing clothing items to several charities.
Her family includes her three children, Beatrice (Thomas, Jr.) Gorse of North Arlington, N.J., Daneen Wassink of North Hornell and Nathan (Patricia) Oakes of Hornell; her five grandchildren, Jennifer (Tyrone) Ross of Philadelphia, Pa., Ryan Wassink of Corning, Bronlyn (J. Bradley Saia) Wassink of Utica, Laura Wassink of Colonial Heights, Va., and Danelle Wassink of North Hornell; her two sisters, Docia Fish of Willits, Calif. and Elsie Williamson of Dansville; also her nieces and nephews and her loving and devoted caregiver, Barbara Welch of Arkport.
Calling hours are from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Davidson Memorial Chapel of the United Presbyterian Church in Hornell, where a funeral and committal service will take place following calling hours at 3 p.m. Saturday, with the Rev. David Kilgore officiating. Interment will be in Rural Cemetery, Hornell.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to their favorite charity.
Arrangements are with the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St.