October 1, 2013

Jane Ann Brown
1931-2013

Jane Ann (Norris) Brown, 81, a former resident of Youngstown, Ohio, and the Frost Valley YMCA in Claryville, N.Y., died on September 17, 2013. She resided at Orchard Valley, Wilbraham, MA at the time of her death.
Jane was born on November 8, 1931, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Norman and Harriet (Guy) Norris. She was raised with her younger sister, Josephine, at the family home in Churchill, Liberty Township. The home passed through five generations of her family, and provided many happy childhood memories for Jane and Jo. Jane graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Lake Erie College in 1953, with a degree in economics and sociology. She was the first woman hired to the professional staff of the YMCA in Youngstown, where she served as Assistant Youth Director at the Youngstown YMCA and Girls’ Camp Director at Camp Fitch on Lake Erie. It was here she met David Halbe Brown, “Halbe,” who was the Boys’ Camp Director. Jane and Halbe were married on March 14, 1958, in Poland, Ohio, with Halbe’s father, Rev. Thomas Brown, officiating. In 1966 they moved to the Frost Valley YMCA in the Catskill Mountains of New York. Jane’s career of more than forty years was dedicated to the YMCA, and to the campers, counselors, families, and board members with whom she worked. In grateful recognition of her decades of devoted service, she was inducted into the Frost Valley Hall of Fame in 2011. She was recognized for her ability to connect individuals of all ages to each other and to the broader mission of the Frost Valley YMCA.
Jane mentored children and youth throughout her life. She served as a second mother to many young people. Her home was always open, with a pie in the oven, for anyone who arrived and needed a warm welcome. Jane was a church member and Sunday school teacher at the Claryville Reformed Church in Claryville, N.Y. and the Barre Congregational Church (UCC) in Barre, Vt. She served on the Parent-Teacher Association for the Tri-Valley School in Grahamsville, N.Y., for many years. In 2001, Jane and Halbe moved to Barre, Vermont, where they continued to host family reunions with their four sons, daughter, and thirteen grandchildren. In 2009, they moved to Massachusetts to be closer to their children and siblings. Jane will be remembered for her graciousness, steady optimism, selfless generosity, and commitment to those in need. She dedicated her life to serving others and never forgot a person she met. Her quiet faith and abiding belief in the goodness of others were the source of her strength. Jane was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, David Halbe Brown; parents Norman and Harriet Norris, and sister Josephine Mellinger; son-in-law Jeffrey Bickart; brother-in-law David Sano; and nephews David Sano and Thomas Sano.
She is survived by children Jeffrey David (Wendy) of Yellowstone National Park, WY., William Thomas (Katherine) of Canton, N.Y., James Norris (Fumiko) of Westhampton, Mass., David Halbe (Diane) of Denali National Park, Alaska, and Jennifer Lynn Bickart of Elmore, Vt.; grandchildren Ellie, Kai, Laura, Becca, Grace, Hana, Halbe, Sarah, Sam, Alex, Laura, Ben, and Isabel; and 11 nephews and nieces. She is also survived by Halbe’s siblings, with whom she was close: Virginia (Richard) Gamble of Youngstown, Ohio., Thomas (Lynn) Brown of Old Greenwich, Conn., Helene Sano of Alliance, Ohio., Mary Ellen (William) Webster of Northborough, Mass., Paul Brown of Claryville, N.Y., and Paula (Tom) Holland of Duxbury, Mass.
A memorial service will be held in the Ketcham Chapel at the Frost Valley YMCA in Claryville, NY on October 20, 2013 at 10:30 a.m.
Friends and family can honor Jane’s life through gifts to the “Halbe and Jane Brown Memorial Fund” at the Frost Valley YMCA.
The family has entrusted New England Funeral & Cremation Center, LLC 25 Mill St., Springfield, MA with the arrangements. Visit www.nefcc.net

Eleanor Heinle Martin
Retired Storekeeper, Heinle’s General Store, 93

Eleanor Heinle Martin, a lifelong resident of Cochecton Center, NY, passed away at the age of 93 on Wednesday, September 25, 2013. The last four years of her life were spent at Mallard Meadows Assisted Living Facility in Waymart, PA, where she was a popular favorite with staff and residents, who enjoyed her warm smile and her piano playing, and often made requests for favorite hymns and songs.
Eleanor was the daughter of William A. and Laura Nearing Heinle and the loving wife of Everitt Martin.
Eleanor, a/k/a Ellie, was a familiar face at Heinle’s General Store where she spent much of her life working with her father and later her brother, Douglas, as storekeeper and assistant postmistress. She was a pillar of the community, played the pump organ at the Cochecton Center United Methodist Church, and was always delighted to tour visitors through the old church and play a few notes on the organ. She also lent her talents as organist for the Sunday services at the Methodist churches of Fosterdale and Kenoza Lake, from which she retired in her mid-eighties.
Ms. Martin was a founding member of the Cochecton Center Community Center, an organization created to preserve the church her grandfather built, which has been maintained with the help of family throughout the generations, down to the present day.
Of their much beloved relative, Eleanor’s family made this statement: “Eleanor was a loving, cheerful person with a ready, dry wit and a kind word for everyone.
She devoted her life to her family and her community. She took great care of her father when he was ill, and was always there with open heart and hands for anyone in need. She was a generous soul who saw the best in every person; she was kindness itself. She will truly be missed.”
Eleanor Martin is survived by her niece, Judy Heinle of White Mills, PA; her nephews, Allen Heinle and his wife Teresa of Las Vegas, NV, Craig Heinle and his wife Terri of Lake Huntington, NY, and Brian Heinle and his wife Beth of Lake Huntington, NY; her great nieces and nephews, Tammy Heinle Paredes, Tracy Johnson, Evan Heinle, Michael Heinle, Amber Heinle, Brianne Heinle, Brian Scott and his wife Katrina, Kristen Sayers and her husband Jason, Jonathan Heinle and his wife Tonya, and Brittany York; and three great-great nieces and four great-great nephews.
Eleanor was predeceased by her husband, Everitt Martin, and brothers Arthur and Douglas Heinle.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 13 at 1:00 p.m. at the Cochecton Center Community Center/United Methodist Church, with Pastor William Hagerty officiating.
Burial of the cremains will take place immediately following the service in Laurel Cemetery, Cochecton Center, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eleanor Martin’s name to Cochecton Center Community Center, c/o George Walters, 9 Walters Farm Rd., Narrowsburg, NY 12764.