Obituary of Dawn E. Chaffee

CANISTEO: Dawn E. Chaffee, 92, formerly of East Main Street passed away Sunday evening, April 15, 2018 at Hornell Gardens where she had resided since 2015.

Dawn was born April 30, 1925 in Belleville, Ontario Canada to Harold and Helen (Chambers) Elliott. On July 6, 1946 in Niagara Falls, she married Blair G. Chaffee who predeceased her in December of 1995. She was also predeceased by a son Neil Chaffee in September of 1969.

Dawn was a graduate of Lindsay Collegiate School and Baker College in Lindsay, Ontario. She had worked as a legal secretary for Shults & Shults in Hornell for several years. She was a member of the Hornell Women of the Moose, the Sweet Adeline’s Women’s Choir, a member of the First United Methodist Church in Canisteo where she was music choir director for many years and a long-time member of the Stephens/Gray Class and the Canisteo Red Hat Society.

Dawn is survived by two sons, Elliott (Janet) Chaffee of Hornell, Gerald (Cheryl) Chaffee of Belle Haven, one daughter Marcia (Peter) Santelli of Hornell, 5 grandchildren: Kiersten (Ray) Wright, Cragg (Monica) Chaffee, Sarah (Jeremy Weakland) Chaffee, Paul (Ashley Coleman) Chaffee and Katherine (Justen) Gay and 9 great grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister Constance Harrison of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Thursday, April 19 at the H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. Funeral Home, 29 East Main Street in Canisteo. A funeral service will take place Friday, April 20 at 10:00 am at the First United Methodist Church, Greenwood St. in Canisteo with Rev. Beverly Welch officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Canisteo.

Memorial contributions in Dawn’s name may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 37 Greenwood St. Canisteo, N.Y. 14823, please make your contribution via check since the online donation feature is not available at this time.