Gertrude C. Hane

Gertrude (Pat) Congdon Hane, of Trumansburg, passed away at home on August 7, 2009 at the age of 97.

Gertrude Hazel Congdon Hane was born January 21, 1912, in Boonville, New York. She was the daughter of the late Edwin and Gertie (Dorn) Congdon and spent most of her youth in North Columbia, New York. Gert ("Pat") attended Albany Normal School and taught rural school in North Columbia.

She married Charles Griswold Hane in August of 1938, and they and their daughters moved to Trumansburg in 1947. For many years, Pat was employed as a bookkeeper for GLF (Agway)-Mother Zero, Wool Scott Bakery, and Babcock Poultry Farm, all in Ithaca. She then served 15 years in New York City and Pocantico Hills as executive assistant for Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., until her death. Pat then transferred to Rockefeller University and the Rockefeller Family Archives Center until reaching mandatory retirement age.

She was a member of the Tarrytown United Methodist Church and enjoyed teaching Sunday School as she had previously done for the Trumansburg United Methodist Church where she also served as a trustee. The Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) membership in chapters BC and BD were special for her.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Harold and Forest, and sisters, Mabel, Amy, Mildred, and Naomi.

She is survived by two daughters, Verna (Richard) Wright of Chesapeake, VA, and Lana (George) Pfann Jr. of Ithaca; Verna's children, David (Martha) Wright, Karen (Charles) Smith, and Steven (Ruby) Wright); Lana's children, Kerstin (Greg Heinzinger) Pfann and Karlton (Michelle) Pfann; eight grandchildren, Hillary and Victoria, Leigh and Marla, Cassandra and Talia, Kieran and Colton; and several nieces and nephews.

There will be no public memorial services. Expressions of sympathy in Gert (Pat's) memory may be made to the special philanthropy of your choice.