Edith A. Brook

Edith A. Brook



Canisteo



The sun set on the life of 104 year old Edith Brook of 5075 State Route 248, Canisteo on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at Hornell Gardens. Her death followed a few years of declining health.

Born March 31, 1906 in Tioga, PA she was the Daughter of George & Nora Gee. She spent her early childhood in the Troupsburg/Greenwood area, moving to Almond at the age of 16.

Edith was pre-deceased by three wonderful husbands: Carl B. Mack, Henry Christiansen & Edward M. Brook.

She & Carl were married in 1924 and lived most of their life in Hornell with their only child Beth. Carl died in 1946, the result of a Loon Lake drowning accident.

Edith had worked hard from the age of three years but now worked harder than ever to support her Daughter & her home. That wasn't easy in 1946 when working Moms were few & far between.

21 years after Carl's death she met a tall, handsome "Dane" by the name of Henry Christiansen. They married in 1967 and lived in Bath, Savona & Almond. With this marriage Edith acquired two much loved stepdaughters, Dorothy Ryan of Bath & Esther Dresser of Lodi. Henry died in 1977.Edith moved back to Hornell & became active in the Senior Citizen programs. She met the "piano man", Edward Brook at one of the Masonic Temple "Senior" dinners.

Edie & Ed married in 1984 & lived in Canisteo. Ed embraced, as only Ed could, Edie's large extended family. He loved them all & especially great grand Daughter Katharine Sanford who grew up to play the piano just like her Grandpa Ed. Ed died in 2000.

Edith worked for many years in Hornell's glove factory & various silk mills and in later life she worked as a meat wrapper at the Dansville & later Bath IGA stores.

Edie was not only ambitious but also imaginative. In the mid 1950's she drew up plans for her dream home and had it built on the Webb's Crossing Road, Hornell. Shortly after moving in she was laid off from her job. What to do? Well, Edie turned her entire huge back yard into a cucumber field and spent that first summer supporting herself by making, canning, and selling her famous 15-day & garlic-dill pickles.

She loved hunting, preparing & stocking her freezer with venison, woodchuck, pheasant, partridge, rabbit, squirrel & more. She also had a passion for fishing. She owned a pistol & lifting up large rocks & shooting snakes was her target practice.

Edie had many dear lifelong friends who preceeded her in death and fondly remembered each & every one of them. She loved telling of their adventures together especially how they lived during the Great Depression.

Surviving is her daughter Beth Moore of Canisteo, granddaughters Lisa (Terry) Sanford of Canisteo, Jodi-Lynn Stephens also of Canisteo & Marcia Stephens of Syracuse. She is also survived by one much loved great grandchild, Katharine E. Sanford of Canisteo & Rochester.

Surviving from her marriage to Henry Christiansen are step-daughter Dorothy Ryan of Bath, her two children Vernon Allison (Joan Blakely) of Naples and Marsha Lindsey of Tennessee, step-grandchildren Angel Conklin and Dawn Meyer of Bath, Heidi Allison McAvoy of St. Louis, Missouri & several other grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as step daughter Esther Dresser of Lodi & her children Kenny, Mark, Jeff, David, Gary, Susie, Cindy & Carol. Needless to say, Edith had numerous nieces & nephews, including, but not limited to Jeanne (Leroy) Meier of Ohio, Kay (Frank) Eighmey of Seneca Falls, Robert & Mary Gardner of Howard, Charles (Barbara) McFall of Corning, Sue (Clint) Lacy & Mary Ann Eicher of Hornell, Mark Eicher (Mary Gallagher) of Canisteo, Edward (Kay) Eicher of Wellsville, Mary (Mike) Walden of North Carolina, Janice Raish of North Carolina, and Nancy Whitman (Bob Campbell) of Virginia.

Edith was also blessed with several loving & caring great-nieces & nephews including Bobbie (Elias) Lopez of California, Karen (Clarence Neeper, Carlene (Jeff )White, Jack Mack & James Mack all of Ohio.

Special cousins include Patricia (Richard) Davison of Canaseraga. Also surviving is Barbara Manhart of Burns who Edith loved like another Daughter.

Edie was predeceased by a niece Bobbie Mack Wilson, step grandson Larry Allison and step-daughter Lynette Tyman.



To send a remembrance please visit www.brownandpowersfuneralhomes.com . The family is being assisted by Gerald R. Brown, Director.



The family will be present to receive friends on Sunday (Sept. 12, 2010) from 2PM until 4PM and from 6Pm until 8PM at the Robertson Funeral Home, 354 Canisteo St. Hornell. Funeral Services will be held at the Davidson Chapel of the Hornell United Presbyterian Church on Monday at 11Am, Rev. David Kilgore officiating. Burial will be Hope Cemetery, Hornell.



Memorials in the name of Edith Brook may be made to Faith In Action, The Masonic Brotherhood Fund or the United Presbyterian Church of Hornell. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.