Geneva (“Sally”) S. Bretsch, of Clayton, NY, died August 30, 2012, in Coconut Creek, Florida, where she resided the past two years. She was a long-time resident of LaFargeville, NY, and of winters in Melbourne, FL.
Born Geneva Christina Sykes, on March 18, 1921, on the family farm in the Town of Fine, St. Lawrence County, NY, the daughter of Maurice and Luella Snider Sykes, she attended Mud Pond one-room country school in the Town of Fine, and graduated from Union Free High School, in Oswegatchie, NY, in 1938, as valedictorian. She entered The House of the Good Samaritan Hospital’s School of Nursing, Watertown, NY, and graduated in 1941 as a registered nurse.
She married Ross K Bretsch, of LaFargeville, NY, on January 12, 1942, at The Little Church Around the Corner (Episcopal) in New York City. Ms. Bretsch served as a nurse in The Good Samaritan Hospital and, during World War II, at Carlisle Hospital, Carlisle, PA. She earned the B.S. degree (Public Health Nursing) in 1959 and the M.S. degree (Nursing Education) in 1972, both from Syracuse University.
She was a Jefferson County public health nurse in the Towns of Alexandria, Antwerp, Philadelphia, and Theresa, following which she was a St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center community psychiatric nurse serving Jefferson and Lewis Counties. She was a member of the LaFargeville Evening Study Club, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Mary and Martha Circle of the LaFargeville United Methodist Church, where she also taught Sunday School. In 1984, she served as Grand Fraternal Correspondent of the New York State Order of the Easter Star, was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and was active in other community affairs of LaFargeville.
Predeceased by her husband, Ross, and her brother, Floyd, she is survived by her children, Ronald Bretsch, Norwood, NY, Carol B. McCabe, Lighthouse Point, FL, and Wayne Bretsch, Annapolis, MD; her sister, Helen Lavezzo, Richardson, TX; six grandchildren: Gregory Bath, Oakton, VA; Liesl Bailey, Voorheesville, NY; Douglas Bath, Vienna, VA; Kurt Bretsch, Southampton, NY; Kristina Gordon, Vienna, VA; and Aradia Bath, Arlington, VA; ten great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Monday at 11am at the Clayton United Methodist Church. Internment will be at Grove Cemetery, LaFargeville, NY. The family is being served by T. R. Jetty Funeral Home, Clayton, NY.
Leave A Condolence Message