Berlin – Luella Marie (Yerden) Osterhout, 80, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at her home with her beloved husband, William J. Osterhout by her side.
Born on Berlin Mountain on May 21, 1935, Luella was the youngest of four children born to the late Albert and Elsie (Maxon) Yerden. She was a lifelong Berlin resident and was a 1952 graduate of Berlin High School where she received the Outstanding Business Student Award.
Luella married her sweetheart, William J. Osterhout on February 20, 1953 in Berlin and they were blessed with more than 62 years of married life together.
Luella was employed by several area companies over the years but her longest employment was with the W.J. Cowee Company in Berlin where she rose through the ranks to become the office manager. She retired after more than 40 years of service. More recently, Luella was employed by Common Ground Associates and Oak-Mitsui, where she worked in their offices. She cherished the many friendships formed throughout the years.
Luella was dedicated to her family and her home but also found time to serve on the Berlin Parade Committee for the past seven years and work part-time in the Berlin Library. She was a communicant of Our Lady of the Snow Parish in Grafton. Luella was a passionate tole painter and took pleasure in sharing her artwork with her family. She enjoyed tending to her flowers, reading and was happiest when spending time with her family.
In addition to her husband, Luella is survived by her loving children, who were blessed to call her Mom: Sally Smith, William J. (Tammy) Osterhout, Jr. and Jean Marie (Steven) Barber, all of Berlin; her cherished grandchildren, Amanda Strock, Billy Joe Osterhout, Jason Osterhout, Charlie Osterhout, Melissa Mercier and Harold Stanley; her sister, Irma Hammersmith of Berlin, as well as 14 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, all of whom she adored. She was preceded in death by her beloved grandson, Joseph Nippes, her brother, Elmer Yerden, and her sister, Doris Teal.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 7 at 12 o’clock noon in Our Lady of the Snow Church, 31 Owen Road, Grafton, NY. Friends are invited to attend and may also visit with Luella’s family, prior to the Mass, from 10 am until 12 o’clock noon at the church. Interment will follow in the Berlin Community Cemetery.
Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home of Petersburgh, NY is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Berlin Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 269, Berlin, NY 12022 in memory of Luella M. Osterhout.
Please visit www.parkerbrosmemorial.com to light a candle, leave a message of sympathy and for directions.