Anna T. Schuck

UNADILLA — Anna T. Schuck entered her new life to be with her Lord on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003, just 23 days before her 100th birthday.

She was of Unadilla and formerly of Afton.

Anna Theresa Schuck, daughter of Frank and Philippina (Velten) Bluemke, was born on Dec. 5, 1903, in St. Nicholas Parish in the Old German Bushwick Section of the city of Brooklyn.

Needing more space for his house-moving business and building a new home, the family moved to St. Leonard of Port Maurice Parish in the Ridgewood Section, where Anna began her lifelong love of cleaning and caring for Sanctuary and Sacristy.

Not even completing grammar school, she went to work as a clerk in Loeser's Department Store and later Bohne Brothers Religious Goods and finally as a long distance operator — roller skates and all — for the New York Telephone Company.

On April 24, 1926, she married Fred Schuck at St. Leonard's and moved to a new home in Franklin Square, Long Island, to continue his work on farms of family and friends.

In 1945, they moved to Mendham, N.J., where they cared for the farm and dairy at The Motherhouse of the Sisters of Christian Charity. After deciding to go dairy farming for themselves, they moved to Coventry in 1946, where they owned and operated a dairy farm until Fred retired in 1975. For about a five year period ending in 1968, Anna worked as a maid and "Girl Friday" at The Hospital in Sidney.

Both Fred and Anna were charter members of St. Agnes Church in Afton in 1947, and almost immediately Anna was called upon to prepare the children for First Penance and First Communion which she continued for 45 years until moving and becoming a part of Gilead community in Unadilla, in 1992, and in all that time also cared for the Linens, Vestments and weekly set-up of Sanctuary and Sacristy.

She was predeceased by her husband, Fred, in April 1983, and by her daughter, Frances Marie Gregory, in September 1994.

She is survived by a son, Joseph John Schuck, with whom she resided; six grandchildren, Joanne and Edward Bulgin of Sag Harbor, Long Island, Michael Gregory III of Unadilla, Carol and Robert Ostrander of Masonville, John Gregory of the U.S. Air Force, Dover, Del., Henry and Mary Obwald of Schenectady, and Paul and Heidi Gregory of Franklin; and eight great-grandchildren, LeeAnn and James Bulgin, Audry and Ian Ostrander, Courtney Gregory, Nina and Isaac Obwald and Jacob Gregory.

While living on Long Island, Anna, was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Franklin Square-Munson Fire Department and during World War II a member of the American Red Cross and honored with a special Gold Volunteer Pin for Personally Preparing over 1,000 Bandages for use overseas.

She was treasurer of the Afton Grange for over 40 years until it closed in 1996, when she transferred to Bainbridge Grange where she held the Office of Chaplain until it closed in early 2003, and is now a member of Oxford Grange. She has been a member of the grange since March 1948, and became a National or Seventh Degree Member in November 1976.

She has been noted for her care and visitation of the sick and homebound and lifeline services even until her 90th year. In 1983, she was honored by the Sertoma Club of Afton with the Service to Mankind Award both for the Tri-Town area and the New York-New England Region.

Visiting hours will be at Sacred Heart Church, Liberty Street, Sidney, on Friday, Nov. 14, 2003, beginning at 4 p.m. and the Traditional Grange Service at 7 p.m. The funeral will be private at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New York State Grange Museum, 100 Grange Place, Cortland, NY 13045 or to the Gilead House of Prayer, 1011 State Highway No. 7, Unadilla, NY 13849.

Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Afton.

Arrangements by the Dorothy Funeral Home, Afton.