Obituary of Winifred Catherine Prozeller Wirth

Dr. Winifred Catherine Prozeller Wirth Castile, NY—Dr. Winifred Catherine Prozeller Wirth, a former resident of Allegany and Ohio died Monday (December 18, 2006) in Warsaw, NY. Born September 10, 1916 in Olean, NY she was the second of ten children born to Edwin Adam and Clara Eve Bucher Prozeller. On June 22, 1937 at St. Bonaventure Church in Allegany she married Edward Wirth who predeceased her August 5, 1979. Dr. Wirth was educated by Franciscans and was a 1934 graduate of St. Elizabeth Academy in Allegany. She held the degrees of Bachelor (Math-1938) and Master of Science (Botany-1942) at St. Bonaventure University, as well as Master and Doctorate (Education- 1985) at Columbia Pacific University. She was proud of her post-graduate research in alternative cancer treatments at the Institutum Divi Thomae (1980 to 1983). Her work as an educator spanned 37 years and included teaching and home-schooling from kindergarten to college level in Nebraska, New York, New Jersey and Ohio. Early in her career she taught in a one-room schoolhouse at the Birch Run Rural #5 in Allegany and she retired from J. E. Prass Elementary in Kettering, OH. She was a lifelong learner. Of all her achievements, she was most proud of earning her Ph.D. She was one of the first women to graduate from St. Bonaventure University. In appreciation for this educational opportunity, she endowed the “Frederick E. Wirth Scholarship” for the study of classical languages, and the “Winifred Prozeller Wirth, Ph.D. Scholarship” for math and science at St. Bonaventure University, and likewise contributed financially to the children’s division of the Allegany Public Library. Dr. Wirth’s passionate nature expressed itself in eclectic hobbies and interests, including collecting and dressing dolls of the world; collecting antiques and books; languages (especially French); all things Alaskan; photography (especially of her flowers and of clouds); a wide range of arts and crafts, especially sewing, knitting, quilting and embroidery; writing and illustrating a dozen children’s books, baking Christmas cookies; and gardening, planting trees and feeding the birds in her “NWF backyard habitat.” She traveled with her children extensively in Canada, Puerto Rico, Alaska and much of the lower 48 states, as well as the Holy Land and Europe during her long retirement. Her indomitable spirit enabled her to survive cancer twice and she remained active and lived independently until her 90th year. Surviving are 6 children Christine Elizabeth (Glen) Krabacher of Rome, NY, Frederick Edward Wirth Jr. of Fairbanks, AK, David Noel (Maggie) Wirth of Columbia, SC, Richard “Rick” (Kathy) Wirth of Delaware, OH, Winifred Catherine (Gary) Wirth-Witte of Silver Springs and Constance “Tina” (Mark) Schrider of Columbus, OH; 12 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; 2 sisters Helen Walters of Randolph and Genevieve Romine of Buffalo; 1 brother Robert Prozeller of Texas and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband she was predeceased by a son Michael Edwin Wirth. Friends will be received at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean on Thursday from 6-8pm where a prayer service will be held Friday (December 29, 2006) at 9:30am. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10am in St. Bonaventure Church. Rev. Richard Husted, OFM, pastor, will be the celebrant. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please honor Dr. Wirth with contributions to the Frederick E. Wirth Scholarship or the Winifred Prozeller Wirth, Ph.D. Scholarship, C/O St. Bonaventure University, the Arbor Day Foundation, the National Wildlife Federation or to the Native American Indian College Fund.