Obituary of Elda O'Hara Wight

Elda O'Hara Wight finished her final journey home on her ninety first birthday, surrounded by the care and support of those who loved her. She was born at home in Hammond, NY on March 5, 1919, the daughter of Charlie and Bertha O’Hara. Elda was a graduate of Potsdam Normal School in 1938 and SUNY Oswego in 1959. She taught in a variety of locales including Hammond, Rodman, and Adams Center. The last nineteen years of her professional career were spent in the Minetto School kindergarten where she was one of the first to teach an inclusive class. Elda was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an educational honorary and professional society. While a resident at Springside, she was co-chairperson of the Residents Council and the 90’s Club. Elda loved reading, historical fiction being her favorite. Family members were beneficiaries of one of their favorite pastimes, knitting. The afghans and sweaters that were her specialties were treasured by all who received them. Although she never learned to swim, she loved her daily treks to the “Y” for their water aerobic classes. She was proud of her staunch political conservatism, and considered Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly as her personal spokesman. She thought of her right to vote as an obligation not to be taken lightly, never missing an election. As a member of the “Greatest Generation”, Elda was passionately patriotic. Her giving spirit brought pleasure to others as well as herself. This was manifested in the Springside garden that she created and lovingly tended for all to admire, as well as the donation of her car used to provide transportation for all Springside residents. Elda was Mom to Jan and Tony Greco of Baldwinsville and John and Laura Wight of Phoenix. She was Gramma to Lisa and Chris Pedersen of Rochester, Beth and Walt Fader of Liverpool, David Greco of Webster, John Wight of NYC, and Larry Wight of Phoenix. She was Gigi to great-grandchildren Nathan and Natalie Pedersen and Jennifer Fader, as well as sister to Glyndon O’Hara of Oneida. She was pre-deceased in 1992 by her husband of 51 years, Carl, as well as their infant angel, Jimmy, in 1958. In 1995, Elda sold the Seneca Hill home where she had lived for 43 years, spending her winters in Florida and her summers in Baldwinsville. Her move to Springside in 2002 brought her back to Seneca Hill, and was an occasion to explain, with a twinkle in her eye, that she moved “over the hill”. She was so happy to be in a place where she found a new family who cared so much for her and she for them. Compassionate care and loving support allowed her to remain in her home at Springside until the end of her earthly life. Services will be private with no calling hours. Burial will be in Mexico Village Cemetery. In her memory, a special fund has been established for the enhancement of the gardens at Springside. In lieu of flowers, donations to that memorial fund may be made to Springside at Seneca Hill, c/o Teresa Ferlito, 10 County Route 45A, Oswego NY 13126.