IN MEMORIAM:  Helen ‘Hedy’ Warncke, 90;

Worked At Greater Plains, SUNY Oneonta

ONEONTA – Helen “Hedy” M. Warncke, 90, a retired educator, died Dec. 8, 2017, in Oneonta.

She was born in 1927 in Stroudsburg, Pa., the daughter of Carl and Esther Ainpac.

She worked in the Media Center at Greater Plains Elementary School and at the Instructional Resource Center in the Technical Services Area at SUNY Oneonta, retiring in 1994.

She was active in the Cub Scouts as a den mother and in Brownies and Girl Scouts as a co-leader when her children were members.

She loved sports, especially baseball. She worked at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown on Induction Weekends in the early 90’s and met many of the inductees and members of the press.

As a mother and grandmother, she motored all over the state, watching the kids play school sports. She was a member of “The Bridge Group” and “The Book Club,” both of which started in the 1960’s. Its members continued to be her life-long friends.

She was a great lover of the written word and was a voracious reader of books, newspapers and especially enjoyed crossword puzzles.  The great tragedy of her life was the failing of her eyesight.

She is survived by her son, Dr. Kurt Warncke (Diane Matesic) and grandchildren, Weston and Karina of Atlanta, Ga.; her daughter, Anne Van Deusen (Dennis) and grandson, Alexander Van Deusen of Oneonta, and her dear friend, Richard Soules of Worcester. She also leaves two local grand-dogs Maxi and Pippa.

She was predeceased by a sister, Ruth Ainspac of Stroudsburg, Pa.; a brother, Robert (Patricia) Ainspac of Wilmington, N.C., and her former husband, Dr. Wayne Warncke of Blacksburg, Va.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Helen’s name to The Heart of the Catskills Humane Society or local Hospice.

In accordance with Hedy’s wishes there will be no calling hours and funeral and burial services will be private.

A special thank you to all of the nurses and aides at the Fox Hospital Nursing Home of whom she became very fond and who treated her with great love and respect.

A “Last Hurrah” for Hedy will be held at her daughter’s home at a date to be determined.

Arrangements are entrusted with Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta; for online condolences visit, www.lhpfuneralhome.com