Louise B. Hedden

Sep tember 21, 1938- June 6, 2017 Louise Hedden, 78, of Wellesley Island, passed on at her home early Tuesday morning June 6th. Born in Olyphant, Pennsylvania she was the daughter of late James and Gertrude Reeves Dempsey. She was a graduate of Olyphant High School and Lackawanna Business School and was certified as a LPN. She married at age 22 and devoted her life to the care of her husband, children, family and friends.  Louise and Bob moved to Endicott, NY to raise their family living there 34 years before settling down for their retirement years on Wellesley Island. Louise was a truly selfless individual. She was a strong advocate for improving the lives of others – always so thoughtful, generous and considerate. She took pride in the being part of the development of Boswell Hill Park, volunteering for many school and community activities; in particular – photographing school district events for which she was awarded special recognition for her talent; her years as a Den Mother for her son’s cub scout pack and as a strong supporter of her sons’ swim team at the Endicott Boys & Girls Club at one point in time presenting a successful grant proposal to senior management executives at IBM Endicott. She was pleased to have her nieces Patti Lou and Bridgette live with her family as well as their neighbor Christopher.  Her door was always open and the neighborhood kids knew where to find the best home baked cookies. Louise was instrumental in her family’s travels from the many years of “house hopping” on holidays, camping expeditions and weekends in the Thousand Islands. She enjoyed collecting sand and seashells on her international travels with her husband as well as photographing her way through her journey on earth. She touched the lives of so many and will be dearly missed by all who loved her. She leaves behind her husband of 56 years, Bob Hedden, children Walter Hedden of Wellesley Island and Mary Lou Scheffield and husband Eric, and three grandsons Nathan, Benjamin and Matthew all of Binghamton, NY. She is also survived by sisters and brothers-in-law, Pat Lou Strong, Bob and Mary Fitzmaurice; Sarah Sheridan; Gertrude Sanko and Michele and Ed Smigiel; several nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her son Robert Hedden, Jr. in 2010, her infant brother Walter Dempsey, her sister Kathryn Dempsey; brothers-in-law Michael Sheridan, Harvey Strong, and Peter Sanko; niece, Bridgette Strong and grandniece, Erica McGuire. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Cyril’s Church, 17 Rock Street, Alexandria Bay, NY on Saturday June 10 ^th at 2 pm with burial to follow at Riverside Cemetery on County Road 100A on Wellesley Island. In lieu of flowers please consider making a contribution in her memory to support her daughter’s missionary team of 15 in upcoming mission to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November. Please mail donations to Two Rivers Church, PO Box 128, Chenango Bridge, NY 13745.