Erminie L. Traxel

Ava - Erminie Lueder Traxel, 93, a native and longtime resident of Ava, passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at Sunset Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Boonville where she had been a resident since August of 1999. She was born on January 25, 1916, a daughter of Eugene William and Erminie (Lueder) Traxel at the Traxel homestead farm at "West Lawn" at the Ava four corners. Miss Traxel graduated from West Leyden High School and attended what is now Mohawk Valley Community College. She was employed for thirty-two years in the Personnel Transfer Division at the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome. Erminie was a lifetime member of the Ava Hilltop Methodist Church, where she served as church treasurer, administrative board member and lay delegate to the Northern New York Conference of the Methodist Church. In addition to being the church organist for forty-six years, she also taught Sunday school and for several summers ran the Summer Bible School at her residence. With loving care that exemplified her service to the church and community, she compiled a complete history of the Ava Hilltop Methodist Church. For several years she also played organ at West Branch, West Leyden, and at the former Prince & Boyd Funeral Home in Rome. As a youth she was active in Girl Scouts. Erminie had a lifelong interest in the community of Ava, and with her sister Carol were instrumental in erecting a monument honoring residents who served in the Armed Forces. The memorial is located opposite Ava Cemetery on land donated to the town by Erminie and Carol. They both shared a great interest in the restoration of the Ava Town Hall. Erminie served as the Traxel family historian and was the keeper of family records dating back to the 1700's. The last of five siblings, Miss Traxel was predeceased by two brothers, Ralph E. and Gerrard V., and two sisters, Elizabeth (Betty) Bradley and Miss Carol E. Traxel. Survivors include several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Her funeral will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler Street, Boonville, where the Rev'd William A. Mudge, pastor of the Boonville United Methodist Church will officiate. An hour of visitation prior to the service will begin at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ava Hilltop United Methodist Church, PO Box 24, Ava, NY 13303 or the Sunset Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Resident Activities Fund, 232 Academy Street, Boonville, NY 13309.