A private memorial service and burial were held on Friday, May 24, 2013, at the Chapel at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Norwich, New York, for Elma M. Bida, longtime resident of Chenango Lake, who passed away on February 26, 2013.
Elma was the daughter of Henry and Ella Frances (Bessinger) Murphy and was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, on October 26, 1918.
Elma spent many years in Daytona Beach, Florida, where she met her husband, John Bida. They were married in Rochester, New York, on August 17, 1946. Elma owned and operated her own beauty shop, and as a licensed beautician specializing in hair coloring, lived and worked in Rochester until John’s retirement from Rochester Products (a division of General Motors) in 1969.
After their retirement, Elma and John resided at Chenango Lake in South New Berlin, New York, where they, together with John’s brothers Frank and Paul Bida, raised, trained, and raced Standard-bred trotters and pacers, racing at tracks in Batavia Downs, Saratoga Raceway, Vernon Downs, and at many county fairs around New York State. During the last four decades of their 61 years together, Elma and John were dedicated to farm life and worked side by side raising and caring for their horses, dogs, cats, and other animals who were like family, while enjoying all aspects of simple country living. Elma loved hunting, fishing, tending to her gardens, and cooking for and entertaining family and friends at their lakeside home. She especially loved celebrating the 4th of July, carrying on a tradition which began when their lake property had been a hotel in the early 1900s.
Elma was predeceased by her loving husband and best friend John, her son, Marvin Donald Hires, and her granddaughter Debrah. Elma was also predeceased by her brothers Cohen Murphy, Thomas Murphy, Clarence (Albert) Murphy, and David Murphy and their wives as well as her sister Verlie (Murphy) Schwass and her husband, who all lived in Florida. Her sister, Emma Jean (Murphy) Miller and niece Murry (Murphy) Thompson of Alabama and Jean’s husband, Art Miller of Florida, her grandson Donald, and several great grandchildren survive. Many nieces, nephews, and special neighbors and friends also survive.
The services were under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home in Norwich, New York.