Obituary of Miriam S. Laundry

Miriam S. Laundry, 98, of Hultquist Place, Jamestown, NY, passed away at 2:16 a.m. Saturday, June 30, 2018, in UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital. She was born October 13, 1919 in Berwick, PA, the daughter of the late Clarence and Helen Mackey Smith. Miriam was a 1936 graduate of East Rochester High School and graduated from the Rochester Business School in 1938, both in Rochester, NY. In earlier years she had worked for R.S. Pavior and Son Insurance Company in Rochester for five years prior to her marriage. She married Rev. Franklin B. Laundry at Colgate Rochester Divinity School Chapel on June 27, 1942. She and her husband served churches in Barker, Buffalo, Rochester, and Chautauqua, all in New York State. In later years she was employed at the Chautauqua Institution for eleven years. Miriam had been a Sunday school teacher since the age of 18 and was a pianist at Parkside United Methodist in East Rochester for several years. She was a member of the Christ First United Methodist Church in Jamestown where she was in charge of the reading program and was active in the Martha Circle. She served as the chapel organist for many services at the chapel of Lutheran Social Services for over 20 years and spent many hours of her time volunteering at the Lutheran Home. Over the years she enjoyed needlework, knitting, reading, music and was blessed by her marriage to Franklin. She was deeply loved and cherished by her family and friends, especially her many friends at the Lutheran Home. She will be greatly missed by all who knew of her kindness and gentleness. She is survived by a niece, Jessie O'Dell of Charlotte, NC, a nephew, Neil (Donna) Laundry of Hamlin, NY, her only cousin, Mary Ellen (William) Valentine of Schnecksville, PA. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Franklin B. Laundry, who died December 21, 2002, a brother, Donald M. Smith who died in 1963 and by a nephew, Donald Stephen Smith. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 14, 2018, in Christ Chapel of Lutheran Social Services. The Rev. Daniel S. Rumfelt, chaplain of Lutheran will officiate. Inurnment will be next to her husband Franklin at Chautauqua Cemetery, Chautauqua, NY. Memorials may be made to the Christ First United Methodist Church, 663 Lakeview Ave. Jamestown, NY 14701, to Lutheran Social Services Foundation, 715 Falconer St. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to Hurlbut United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 33, Chautauqua, NY 14722.