NORWICH – Alfhild O. Westcott, 99, of 557 Broadway, Oneida, formerly of Hamilton, died Thursday afternoon, Jan. 4, 2007 in the Presbyterian Home for CNY where she had been a resident since May 10, 2005.
Alfhild was born on Oct. 20, 1907 in Proctor, VT, the daughter of John and Louise Erickson Olson. Her family moved to Norwich in 1914, when her father acquired a monument business. Alfhild’s father was a town alderman and a leader of the local Swedish community.
She graduated from Syracuse University in 1925 with a degree in Fine Arts.
During the “roaring twenties”, she designed and constructed elaborate party decorations for the wealthy clients of a catering firm in Manhattan. Later she applied these skills to many Colgate University banquets held at Colgate Inn.
After the stock market crash of 1929, she ran a large nursery school in South Orange, New Jersey. She designed and ran educational programs for poor immigrants and blacks at the Community House. She was the leader of the first Brownie troop in the area for black girls.
Alfhild married Lawrence C. “Pat” Westcott on June 25, 1934 in Norwich. The Westcotts were married for 60 years. Mr. Westcott died on Oct. 29, 1994.
Alfhild was a devoted member of her communities; Hamilton and Oneida. She enjoyed reading and studying just as her father had done. She presented many lectures and programs in local communities on a wide range of subjects, including decorating, gardening and American historical figures.
Alfhild and her husband, a feed dealer and banker, moved from Hamilton to Oneida in 1961. He established the Oneida Milling Company in 1950 which served the area’s dairy farmers until 1971. Mrs. Westcott ran the garden shop that was attached to the feed mill, next to Allen Park. She oversaw the construction of their new home in Oneida, planned the landscaping, and was an avid gardener.
Alfhild was a volunteer at the Hamilton Hospital and organized holiday decorations at the Oneida Hospital for 23 years. She also prepared the artwork for early Follies Benefits for the hospital.
Mrs. Westcott was a trustee of the libraries in Hamilton and Oneida, a co-founder of Friends of the Library and was the children’s storyteller at both libraries. She told stories to children in Oneida on Saturday mornings for 14 years.
In Oneida, Mrs. Westcott was an active member of the Art Club, The Progress Club and Women of Rotary. She also belonged to the League of American Pen Women.
She received a Colgate Civic Award from Colgate University and Roses for the Living Award from the Oneida Rotary Club.
Surviving are two daughters, Nancy Westcott of Utica, and Joan Westcott of Oneida; one sister, Sylvia Tillotson of Longwood, Florida; two cousins, Carol Miller of Norwich, and Shirley Skahan, of Utica; and Joan’s caregiver, Robert Mann, of Oneida.
A half hour video on the early life of Alfhild will be shown at a Memorial Service to be held at 10 a.m. Monday from the Ironside Funeral Home, Inc 342 Main Street Oneida with Rev. Elizabeth Quick officiating. Interment will be made in North Norwich Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be made to Presbyterian Home Patient Fund 4290 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, NY 13413.
You may view obituary and send a message of condolence online at www.ironsidefuneralhome.com.