Lorraine Stripp
July 31, 2011

Mrs. M. Lorraine (Rowe) Stripp, age 77, of Old Forge, passed away on Sunday, July 31, 2011, at the Masonic Care Community of NY with her loving family by her side.
Lorraine was born in Warsaw N.Y., on April 6, 1934, the daughter of the late Alfred H. and Martha (Belknap) Rowe. She grew up in Wyoming N.Y., graduating from Wyoming Central School and Keuka College.  
On Oct. 1, 1955, she wed her childhood sweetheart, Allen L. Stripp. After moving to Old Forge in 1958, Lorraine immersed herself into the community that she grew to love so well. She was one of the founding members of the local Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and remained an active member for over 40 years.
Lorraine was employed at the Art Center in Old Forge for many years.
She had an assortment of job titles including assistant director, bookkeeper, craft fair chairperson, hostess and volunteer. Her great love of children led her to an assistant position with the local preschool, Kinderwood. She smiled, held hands, fixed boo-boos, guided and cheered the children on for over four decades.
Lorraine was also very involved with the Polar Bear Ski Club while her kids skied in the 1970s; spending many hours on McCauley Mountain helping with ski races and fund raising.
In 2009, she and her husband received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Central Adirondack Association, “in recognition of a lifetime of commitment and dedication to the development, guidance and support of the Central Adirondack region and its citizens.”
She was a long time member of the Niccolls Memorial Presbyterian Church in Old Forge.
She is survived by her loving husband, Allen L, Stripp, of  Old Forge; children, David W. Stripp and his wife, Kelly of Marion, N.Y., Michael J. Stripp and his wife, Dayna of Holland Patent, Mark A. Stripp and his wife, Karen of Glenwood Springs, Colo., Daniel B. Stripp of Vail, Colo., Susan L. Stripp of Old Forge and Sandra L. Tetreault and her husband, Pierre of Old Forge; grandchildren, Tracy Maddox and her husband, Alex, Trevor, Sarah, Daniel, Christopher, Ryann, Michelle, Erika, Jessica and Tyler Stripp; great grandchild, Zahria Maddox; nephew, Dick E. Rowe and his wife, Shannon.  
She was predeceased by a brother, James Rowe.
The memorial service was held on Thursday, Aug. 4 at Niccolls Memorial Presbyterian Church, Old Forge.  There were no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, please consider Kinderwood, in memory of Lorraine. Kinderwood, PO Box 255, Old Forge, NY 13420.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Raquette Household at the Masonic Care Community of NY for all the care, compassion and comfort given to Lorraine.
Arrangements are with the Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Home, Old Forge.
For online expression of sympathy go to www.dfwefh.com

Elizabeth M. Lehman
July 5, 2011

Elizabeth M. (Fisher) Lehman, 89, of Ridgewood, South Utica and Old Forge, passed peacefully from the loving care of her family and friends into the hands of God on Tuesday, July 5, at the Presbyterian Home for CNY.
Betty was born on April 6, 1922 in Rensselaer, N.Y., the youngest child of the late James P. and Nellie A. (Greene) Fisher. She was raised in  Rensselaer and Pine Hills, N.Y., attended local schools and was active in her church C.Y.O. and Girl Scouts.
Mrs. Lehman was an alumna of the Academy of the Holy Names (Class of 1940) whose life reflected her school’s motto “To be, rather than to seem.” She was also a graduate of the Albany Business College and attended the College of St. Rose. Her professional career included a position as Executive Secretary to the President of John J. Myers Company. During WWII her work at the Sterling-Winthrop Research Institute in East Greenbush as a physicians and chemists Research Assistant focused on developing antibiotics for our Armed Forces.
On June 30, 1951 she married Merle L. Lehman at the Church of St. Vincent de Paul in Albany. They first met at West Point during an Army/Navy football game (cheering for Navy of course.)
As a young wife and mother she lived in Niskayuna prior to relocating with her family to Utica in 1957 and in1962 to Old Forge as a summer resident.
Mrs. Lehman was active in many organizations as a member and officer including New Comers Club, Progress Club, H.R. Jones School PTA, Cub Scouts (Den Mother), The Utica Garden Club and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Guild. Her many hours of volunteer service to the American Red Cross were especially important to her. Over the years, she got great satisfaction from assisting at many blood drives.
During retirement she and her husband were very fortunate to be able to summer lakeside on the Fulton Chain in the Adirondacks and winter gulf-side in Venice, Fla.
Other interests included cooking for and entertaining family and friends, gardening, travel, meeting new people, and music-playing and teaching piano. Betty especially enjoyed planning birthday and anniversary celebrations for others. Her Florida parties were legendary.
Mrs. Lehman was a Roman Catholic and parishioner of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Utica, St. John the Evangelist in New Hartford, St. Bartholomew’s in Old Forge and Venice Cathedral in Florida.
While her family was the center of her life, she was always prepared to lend a hand to others. There was always room for another chair at her table.
During her three years as a resident at the Presbyterian Home, despite severe physical debilitations, Betty’s outgoing personality, sense of humor, single-mindedness (i.e., stubbornness) and caring, compassionate spirit still shone through. This won her many supportive friends among caregivers, staff and residents alike. Her sons will always be grateful for these bonds. Fond family memories include many happy hours spent in the Fountain Court Garden and especially with the “Fireside Chatters.”
She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 54 years in 2005 and by her older brother, J. Wilson Fisher of Delmar, N.Y. in 1997.
She is survived by her three sons Mark C. Lehman of New Hartford, Michael J. Lehman of Fayetteville, N.Y. and Terrence L. Lehman of Utica in addition to several cousins in the Albany area.
The funeral was Monday, July 18, at St. John the Evangelist Church, in New Hartford, where a Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated, with Father Joseph Zareski officiating. Interment was in Forest Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to the Presbyterian Home for CNY Activities Fund in memory of Mrs. Lehman. Mail to PO Box 1144, Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, NY 13413. Friends are also asked to perform a random act of kindness in Betty’s honor for someone in need.
For online expression of sympathy go to www.dfwefh.com.
“Mourn not too long that she is gone, but rejoice forever that she was.”