MARY F. WALDON
SMITHVILLE CENTER – Mary Waldon, formerly of Smithville Center and Greene, NY died Sept. 6, 2014 at the age of 99 years and four months.
Eldest child of Ukrainian immigrants Jan and Michaelina Muzyka, Mary grew up in N.Y.C. on the Lower East Side Tenement District. She was a survivor of the Spanish Flu epidemic
Fluent in Ukrainian, Polish and English, she worked at White Star Steamship Co. and interpreted for incoming European immigrants. Later employment included secretary for Waldon Painting and Decorating in N.Y.C., a “riveter” on airplane wings in Tarrytown, NY during WWII and finally feeder-bus driver for Greene Central School.
Mary and Edward Waldon were married in 1933. In 1945, they moved upstate to Smithville Center, purchasing the Rorapaugh/Bonner farm. Here they realized their dream of owning acres of land, country living and their (City) version of homesteading.
Their three children who enjoyed country living are Phyllis Lerwick (Coventry), Jon Mark Waldon (Pittsburg) and Denise Oliver (deceased).
Mary’s siblings were Anna Muzyka Bedrey (dec.), Joseph Muzyka (dec.) and “baby brother” Eugene Muzyka of Long Island, who survives.
Grandchildren include Ellen Lerwick Kluge (Skaneateles), Russell Lerwick (Coventry), Bonnie Patterson (MO), Kim Anderson (CA), Cathy Gootee (MA), Susan Stump (MI), Marci Oliver Robertson (CA), Beth Oliver Pleasants (VA). Twenty-one great grandchildren also survive.
Special people in Mary’s life include lifelong friend Mildred Horning of Shushan, NY, best pal Pat Stafford of Afton, and “roomie” Jeanette Livingston of Binghamton. Also the Smithville Center gang of friends who never forgot her.
The staff at Bridgewater Rehabilitation (Floor 3-B) are thanked for the years of caring and friendship and are charged with continuing to nurture “Mary’s Flower Garden” on the big windowsill in the hallway, for others to enjoy.
A mass and memorial service, followed by a luncheon, is planned for Friday, Oct. 24 at 11 a.m. at Church of the Immaculate Conception, 1180 State Highway 206, Greene NY.