Obituary of Mary Personius

Mary Knowles Personius, age 91, Watkins Glen, NY, passed away July 27, 2012. Mary was born March 26, 1921 in Thurston, NY to Harry Kenneth and Mina Fero Knowles. She is survived by her daughter Carol Trump, Coram, Long Island, NY; sons: John Personius & Tony Masullo, Seneca Falls, NY, Rodney (Louise) Personius, Hamburg, NY and companion Robert Mann, Dundee, NY; grandchildren: Matthew (Wylie) Trump, Stonybrook, NY, David (Michelle) Trump, Seattle, WA, Kate (Jerry) Arnold, Amherst, NY, Jamie (Jake) Gustafson, Bountiful, UT, Mary Joan Personius, Buffalo, NY and Brooke and Hunter (twins), Hamburg, NY; great grandchildren: Benjamin, Nichols and Sophia; brothers: Ernie (Margaret) Knowles, Painted Post, NY, Harry (Donna) Knowles, SC, and Stanley (Esther) Knowles, VA; sister-in-law Margaret Knowles, Hector, NY and Hobe Sound, FL, and two special friends who have always supported her and became part of her extended family: Vicki Cadwell and Joyce VanVleet. She was predeceased by brothers: Charles and Lee; and sisters: Betty, Hila, Ruth, Nellie and Belle. Mary's main concern was always her family whom she loved very much. She married Olin (Pete) Personius in 1942. He was a World War II Veteran with a service connected disability and was hospitalized from 1956 until his death in 2001. She worked 43 years at Shepard-Niles Crane and Hoist Corp. and was payroll supervisor when she retired in 1983. She was proud to have been the first woman to be put on salary. Upon her retirement, she was busy with family, gardening, canning, feeding and watching birds, making jam and was an avid reader all her life. She was known for her chocolate chip cookies. Her granddaughters claimed that she wouldn't make it to her family in Buffalo for visits without chocolate chip cookies in the car and when her family members visited there were almost always chocolate chip cookies in the cookie jar. She resided in Moreland nearly all of her life. She was a long time active member of the United Methodist Church in Montour Falls where she loved singing in the choir. She also taught Sunday School for several years, was the first woman on the Board of Trustees, was Secretary of the Board for many years and served as Chairman of Worship Committee. She was an active member of Fern-Tyrone Chapter #142 and Order of Eastern Star in Montour Falls since 1970. She always served as an officer and held position of Secretary for 25 years retiring in 2009. She also was District Deputy Grand Matron of Chemung-Schuyler-Tioga district in 1981. One thing she enjoyed was her volunteer work for RSVP and received an award for over 1000 hours volunteering. Among her loves were Reading Buddy and Literacy Volunteer helping people learn to read. She worked in several offices and helped with the Golden Glow newspaper. Mary was responsible for the formation of the Queen Catherine Red Hat Chapter and served as Queen Mother from its beginning. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Vedder and Scott Funeral Home, Montour Falls, NY on Friday, August 3rd from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 4th at 11:00 AM at the Montour Falls United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Montour Falls United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice. To send the family a condolence, please visit www.vedderandscottfuneralhome.com