Obituary of Wilma Jean Cadwell

Wilma Jean Cadwell Dundee: Wilma Jean Cadwell, age 94, of the town of Starkey, NY, died December 30, 2020 at the Penn Yan Manor nursing home. Jean was born in the village of Dundee, NY, on June 3, 1926, the daughter of Benjamin Leroy and Nellie Bly (Huff) Denton. She graduated from Dundee Central School in 1944. On July 8th of that year, she married Ernest W. Cadwell in Lancaster NY. Erny and Jean were happily married for 54 years, before he passed away on November 10, 1998. She was a member of the Dundee United Methodist Church. Other than living in New Jersey for three years (a brief transfer with Penn Yan Express), Jean and Erny were lifelong area residents, and so enjoyed living along Seneca Lake, first as summer residents and then year-round in their retirement years. She was the last remaining member of the original eight families who began building summer cottages along a stretch of lakeshore in 1953. For many years, Jean would start her day with an early morning plunge into the cool waters followed by a game of cards with her childhood friend Alice Vaughn. Over many, many years she thoroughly appreciated the friendships and kindnesses of devoted neighbors and friends — both old and new — who always kept in touch and visited with her so often. When her daughters were young, she volunteered as a Brownie Scout leader, and when they entered school, she was employed at the Mimeo Press and the Belle's Dress Shop. She also enjoyed many years of bowling for the team sponsored by the former Dundee State Bank and attending the annual bowling tournaments around the state with her teammates. From childhood on and throughout her life, she was always up for a game of cards or dominos. She continued to make new friends all her life, and when she learned to play bridge, her bridge buddies, and the warm-hearted friendships and fun times they shared, were so important to her and made her later years so good. Jean was an excellent seamstress (making all her daughters' clothes, Halloween costumes, Easter and prom dresses, as they grew up, including her eldest daughter's wedding gown, bridesmaids' dresses, and her own mother-of-the-bride ensemble). Over the years, her artistic hobbies expanded to include folk art decorative painting on tin, knitting, making new jewelry out of vintage buttons, and quilting. Her hands were never idle. In the Huff family tradition, Jean was also an excellent cook and will be forever remembered for her baking skills, making life sweeter with the sugar cookies (a family recipe) she loved to give at Christmas and other occasions, and for the delicious pies she made so often for family & friends and for many church suppers. Jean was grateful to be able to live a long, happy and healthy life celebrating with many birthday parties that always included ice cream! She is loved and will be dearly missed by her two daughters, Carol Robbins of Austin, TX and Vicki Cadwell of Watkins Glen, NY. Snowball, her fluffy white feline companion, will miss her very much, too. She also leaves behind dear second cousins from her mother's side of the family who always kept in touch with visits and reunions. "Aunt Jean" is also survived by her nieces and nephews (and their families), Candace Denton, Vincent Denton, Jerome Denton, Brenda Keegan, Laurie Salser, Pamela Holdsworth, and Jeffrey Cadwell. Besides her parents, her husband, and infant daughter, Bonnie Jean, who died at birth, she was predeceased by her beloved son-in-law, James (Jim) Robbins, her older brother Leroy Denton and his wife, Natilee, and her brother-in-law, John Cadwell. Those wishing to honor Jean may donate to the Dundee Fire Company Emergency Squad, 12 Union St, Dundee NY 14837, the Dundee United Methodist Church, 35 Water St, Dundee, NY 14837, or to any charity of their choice. A celebration of life is planned for a time after the pandemic passes in order for us to safely gather. "We clasp the hands that go before us, and the hands of those who come after us."----Wendell Berry, 2010 Arrangements are by the Baird Funeral Home, 36 Water St., Dundee, NY; online condolences can be sent by visiting www.bairdfuneralhomedundee.com.