Obituary of Jean M. (Morris) Pratt

ROCHESTER/CANISTEO: Jean M. (Morris) Pratt of Rochester, a former 65 year resident of Canisteo, passed away Tuesday morning August 1, 2023 at the Jewish Home of Rochester. Jean was born in Hornell on November 20, 1932, the daughter of the late Frank Morris and Ada Willley Morris Schoenert. A 1950 Hornell High graduate, she lived most of her youth in Hornell, until marrying Belden E. Pratt of Canisteo on July 12, 1952. Together they raised five children in the Canisteo Valley. Jean was a homemaker and caregiver who loved caring for her family. She worked outside the home in various capacities including Scott’s Dairy Bar in their ice cream shop. Following a five-year break after the birth of her youngest child, she returned to the workforce in 1970 and worked in the school cafeteria for a short time before moving to the high school library as a library aide, retiring in 1991. Her passion for her family will always be remembered and honored. She enjoyed time with her eight grandchildren. They will always enjoy wonderful memories of holiday gatherings at her home. She particularly loved the family reunions at Green Lakes State Park where the clan has gathered since 2003 – singing, sharing meals and playing games. She would cook and bake for those gatherings especially with “grandma’s world-famous meatballs”. She loved baking and shared it with friends and neighbors. Jean enjoyed reading and sitting on the front porch of her home to watch the kids in the Rotary Field. In the early years of her marriage, she belonged to Pounce Club and was the sole survivor of that social group. After her retirement, she had volunteered at the Wimodaughsian Free Library and the Kanisteo Historical Society. She was a member of St. Joachim’s Church in Canisteo and then St. Ann’s in Hornell before her move to the Rochester area. Jean was predeceased by her parents, her husband of 44 years Belden, her sister and brother-in-law Frances (Wilson) Hagadorn, her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law on her husband’s side of the family. Jean is survived by her children Martha (James) Eddy of Manchester, CT, Francis (Martha JoAn) Pratt of North Canton, OH, Barbara Dickerson of Fairport, James (Linda) Pratt of Penfield, and Mary (Mark Cotter) Pratt-Cotter of McDonough GA. Her Grandchildren: Frank Cotter, Elizabeth (Kyle Fontes) Pratt-Fontes, Katharine (Tim Esposito) Dickerson, Jean D. Pratt, Andrew Dickerson, Margaret (Brandon Wenner) Cotter, Anthony Pratt, and Cassandra Pratt, her sister-in-law Nettie Beatrice Way and many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends Saturday August 5, 2023 from 12-2 pm at the H.P. Smith & Sons, Inc. Funeral Home, 29 East Main St. in Canisteo the funeral service will immediately follow the calling hours at 2:00 pm. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Canisteo. Family and friends are invited to share refreshments and fellowship after the service at The Canisteo Fire Company, 14 S. Main St, Canisteo. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Canisteo, NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wimodaughsian Free Library, 19 West Main St. Canisteo, NY 14823.