Cecelia ‘Ceil’ Buckley
Cecelia D. “Ceil” Buckley, 100, of Thendara passed away peacefully on Monday, March 4, 2013 at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica.
She was born on January 30, 1913 a daughter of the late Henry and Clara (Rozon) DeMoors in Thendara on the corner of Beech and Birch Streets, which once served as the first school house in the Thendara.
In the 1930’s she served as the Brantingham Post Master and in the 60’s and 70’s she served as the Relief Post Master in Thendara. She also was employed at one time with Clark’s Beach Motel in Old Forge and also was a housekeeper for many local prominent families in the Old Forge area.
Ceil was known for her fine handiwork and for most of her life enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and quilting.
She began to quilt at a young age, joining her mother and other local women at the Thendara Town Hall in making quilts to help with the war effort during World War I.
Ceil was a longtime member of the Pointed Pine Quilters of Old Forge and joined her fellow quilters each Tuesday at the Old Forge Library—a practice that she enjoyed nearly to the end of her life.
“I’m thankful that I can do it. I don’t know how people sit and do nothing all day. I have a bad shoulder and a bad hip but it doesn’t stop me from doing the kind of stuff that I like,” Ceil said in an interview on her 99th birthday.
Many of her hand-stitched works were donated and sold at the annual Big Moose Chapel Bazaar.
She loved animals of all types, but it was her family who brought her the most joy in her life.
Most recently she was honored by her family, friends and community with a 100th birthday celebration at View, the arts center of Old Forge.
In October of 2012, it was announced that a new award was established in Ceil’s name by the Pointed Pine Quilters at View’s annual Quilts Unlimited Exhibition. The Cecilia Buckley Silver Needle Award is presented to the individual with the best hand-quilted entry in the show.
Ceil is survived by a daughter Betty Rannels and a son-in-law Norman of Thendara; a son Mark (Avis) Buckley of Norwich, NY; 10 grandchildren, many great grandchildren and several great great grandchildren.
She also leaves many nieces and nephews and many very special friends. And last but not least her feline companion Sam.
She was predeceased by two daughters, Hilda Baerman-Carman and Barbara Dolan; also, two brothers, Arthur DeMoors and Victor DeMoors and two sisters, Melina Pistolesi and Anna Cowen.
A memorial service will be held in May at Niccolls Memorial Presbyterian Church in Old Forge at a time to be announced. Reverend Lawrence Bartel will officiate.
For those who wish, please consider the following charitable organizations that were very important to Cecelia.
The Home Aid Service of Central Adirondacks (HASCA). P.O. Box 25, Old Forge, NY 13420; the Town of Webb Historical Association, P.O. Box 513, Old Forge, NY 13420; the Old Forge Library, P.O. Box 128, Old Forge, NY 13420; the Old Forge Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 1170, Old Forge, NY 13420; or View, P.O. Box 1144, Old Forge, NY 13420.
For online expressions of sympathy please go to www.dfwefh.com.
