Obituary
Seneca Castle – Elsie Hemminger, 93, passed away peacefully on November 15, 2017.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday (Dec. 27th) at 11 a.m. at the Seneca Castle United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Sand Hill Cemetery.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Methodist Church, Seneca Castle, NY 14547; or the 4-H Camp Bristol Hills, Bathroom Update Campaign, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County, 480 N. Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424.
was born Elsie Marie Koek in Penn Yan, NY to Chresten and Agnes Koek on May 9, 1924. She graduated from Penn Yan high school and Myers Memorial Hospital Nursing School in Buffalo where she received her RN nursing degree.
She married Ralph Hemminger of Geneva, NY in 1947 and enjoyed 50 years of marriage before his death in 1997. They first ran a farm on “shares” until 1952, when they purchased and moved to a farm west of Geneva, NY. They also purchased the Noble farm in Seneca Castle, NY in 1959, renaming it Hemdale Farms. The last few years of their marriage were spent in a house they built next to this farm. The farm is now operated by their son and grandson.
Elsie followed her nursing career as a RN in the Geneva Hospital until the 1970’s and then worked as a volunteer nurse for the Rushville clinic for many years. She was a member of the Seneca Castle United Methodist Church.
In addition to her devotion to her family, Elsie loved to garden, was a wonderful cook and crocheted many beautiful items for family and friends. She also loved to travel. She was very proud of her Danish heritage and travelled to Denmark multiple times to visit her parents’ homesteads and extended family. Elsie’s Danish pastry was a much sought-after item at church bake sales.
Elsie was a devoted and loved mother and grandmother, and is survived by her sister Agnes DeBolt of Penn Yan, NY; and her children: Ralph James Hemminger of Chicago, Ill.; Dawn (Bill) Smith of Clifton Springs, NY; Joline (James Kraker) Hemminger of Cazenovia, NY; and Dale (Connie) Hemminger of Geneva, NY. She also is survived by 8 grandchildren: Chris (Meredith) Ruthven; Jason Smith; Evan (Christy) Kraker; Jesse Kraker; Jeremy (Erin) Kraker; Tamara (Matthew) Felker; Clay (Lauryn) Hemminger; Alessandra Hemminger; as well as 6 great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph and brothers; Marvin Koek and Glen Koek of Penn Yan.