Obituary of Gloria Kehoe

Gloria Vales Kehoe, 84, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2012, at St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY. Olean, NY, was the hometown she loved, born there on October 8, 1927, the daughter of proud Czech immigrants Venseslas and Josephine (Hrdlicka) Vales. She married John A. Kehoe at St. John's Church there in April of 1954; 'Jack' survives her at home. Gloria graduated from Olean High School in 1945, honored as Salutatorian of her class. After studying at Hiram College in Ohio, she returned home to attend St. Bonaventure University, where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology in 1949. She then pursued a career in education, teaching sciences in Buffalo, NY. Her love of science led to a career in Microbiology, working at hospitals and labs around New York State, retiring from Vassar Hospital and MDS Laboratories in Poughkeepsie, NY, in 1992. Family was always her priority. Her unselfish manner was always evident in the way she interacted with everyone she met. She lived a philosophy of hope, always an advocate for the less fortunate, always giving, always smiling. Her strength of character never wavered, her desire to help others never weakened. Gloria was always fascinated by nature; her interest in science, botany, and birding was instilled in and continues to be enjoyed by her family and friends. She also loved to write, simple traditional letters, many were lucky to receive her notes written in her beautiful penmanship. She also enjoyed international cooking, theatre, and the arts. In addition to her husband, Gloria is survived by children Nancie Kehoe Cooney of Ilion, NY; David Vales Kehoe and his wife Midge of Hyde Park, NY; Mary Gugumuck and her husband Rich of Poughkeepsie, NY; grandchildren Alissa and Richelle Cooney, Stephen and Timothy Gugumuck, and step grandsons Peter and Erich Zielenski; sisters Clara Vales, Olean, NY, and Lillian Ford, St. Louis, MO; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Jarome Vales and sister Harriette Donnelly. There will be no prior visitation. Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated Saturday (February 25, 2012) at 11:00am in St. John's Church, 931 N. Union St., Olean. Rev. Edward Sheedy, pastor, will be the celebrant. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Memorials, if desired, may be made to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, P.O. Box 759155, Baltimore, MD 21275-9155 or www.nami.org. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig, & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean, NY where online condolences may be left at oleanfuneralhome.com.