Obituary of Judith W. Hess

BARCELONA - Judith W. (Whitwood) Hess, age 79, of North Portage St., Barcelona, passed away, Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at home with her family by her side following a brief illness. Judith was born on March 29, 1934 in Westfield, NY, the daughter of the late W. Deo and Virginia (Raynor) Whitwood. A Barcelona-Westfield area resident all her life, Judy, as she was known, attended Country School in Barcelona and was a 1952 graduate of Westfield Academy and Central School and attended Canton, A.T. I. (now SUNY Canton). She owned and operated Judy Hess Upholstery for many years in Barcelona. Active and interested in Barcelona, Judy, was Trustee for the Barcelona Community Building, where she also maintained a Commercial Fisherman's Museum, for which she was very proud. She enjoyed arts and crafts, household and lawn sales as well as the craft of Stain Glass. She is survived by her husband of 36 Years, Ronald B. Hess, Sr., whom she married on December 2, 1977 in Portland, NY, and her three daughters: Virginia (Jerry) King of Sherman, NY, Donalyn (Jeff) Franze of Bemus Point, NY, and Laura Rothwell of Ridgecrest, CA, and her stepson Ronald B. "Rusty" Hess, Jr. of Elmira, NY. Judy was the proud grandmother of, Renee and Ethan Anderson, Kyle (Jen) Franze, Jacquelyn (Shane) Bruner and Todd Franze, Jordan Rothwell, and Matthew and Mitchell Hess. She is further survived by her Great Grandson, Luke Franze, as well as her two sisters: Janet Dart of the British Virgin Islands and Jayne (Richard) Furman of Brocton, NY. Many nieces and nephews also survive that include Leslie Taylor of Louisville, KY, who had resided with "Aunt Judy" for several years. At Judy's request, all services will be private. Her family suggests Memorial may be made to Hospice of Chautauqua County, 20 West Fairmont Avenue, Lakewood, NY 14750. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to The MASON Funeral Home, 37 Clinton St., Westfield, NY. Log on to www.masonfuneral.com to send the Hess family a message of sympathy, to light a Memorial Candle or for further information.