NORWICH – Elaine S. Breed, 83, of the Golden Age Apartments, and formerly of Pleasant Street, Norwich, passed away Friday morning, April 20, 2007 in the Wilson Hospital of Johnson City.
The daughter of Ivan Emmett and Mary (Tuttle) Risedorph, Elaine was born in So. Edmeston on Nov. 29, 1923. She attended the one-room schoolhouse in South Edmeston, and, at a very young age, worked beside her dad and brother in the Borden’s Cheese Factory there. As a young person, she loved to write poetry. Elaine moved to the Binghamton area to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse, taking classes at Binghamton General Hospital and paying for them by working in the ticket booth at the Greyhound Bus Terminal. She began her nursing career in Binghamton General, and would later work for over 20 years for the Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich. With the advent of World War II, Elaine joined a civilian corp and, working at Fort Drum, became a “grease monkey” servicing the airplanes. In 1962, she moved back to her father’s farm at Sherburne Four Corners and worked briefly for Doyle’s Bakery in Sherburne, then moved to Norwich in 1965.
On Jan. 14, 1967, she married Walter Breed, and resided on Pleasant Street until 1992 when she relocated to the Golden Age Apts. Elaine was a lady with a warm smile who made friends easily. While she could be outspoken and would “tell it like it was,” she was well respected and admired. Her humor was legendary, and it was not unusual for Elaine to be called upon for a joke or two for a special occasion. At home, she loved to make scrumptious molasses cookies which she would give away, and her talents at crocheting inspired friends to hire her to make baby afghans for them. Each of Elaine’s grandchildren was also the recipient of her handiwork.
Elaine is survived by her children: Cynthia Eccleston and husband Leon of DeRuyter, and Ivan David Rosengrant of Oneonta; by her grandchildren: Jennifer Mary-Linn Auchmoody and husband Jon of Cortland, Thomas Ivan Eccleston of Ithaca, and Jeffery Ivan Rosengrant of Oneonta; and by her first great granddaughter, soon to be born, Elainna. She was predeceased by her husband, Walter, on June 23, 1968; and by her sister and brother, Marion and Paul Risedorph.
Funeral services for Elaine will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Jeremy Stopford will officiate. Interment will be at a later date in the Sherburne West Hill Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the service at 1 p.m.
Elaine’s family has requested that memorial contributions be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815.