SCHENEVUS – Anna M. Diehl, 89, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, December 30, 2014. She was at the Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing at Otsego.


She was born February 2, 1925 in Jamaica, Queens, NY, the daughter of John and Mary (Goodlain) Huther.


Anna married Charles Diehl on May 9, 1948 in Springfield Gardens. He predeceased her on September 10, 1996.


Anna lived in Levittown for many years. At the age of 12 she was the first female to win the Twirling Championship in the New York State Fire and Drum Corp Association. She was a member of the Twirling Group in the Levittown Fire Department and Girl Scouts. Anna and Charles were Foster parents for most of their married life.

In October of 1961 she and her family moved to Schenenvus. She was employed at Jamesway Department Store for 10 years. She volunteered for the Girls Scouts, Food Bank, St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Schenevus Drum Corp and worked at the voting poles. She enjoyed drawing, painting, crafts and gardening.


She is survived by her children, Karen and Don Jahnke of Schenevus, Laurie Garner and Don Carey of Minnesota; Carleen and Harry Henderson of Schenevus, a special foster daughter, Laura and Tom Sheldon and their daughter, Sydney; grandchildren, Charles and Sarah Jahnke, Louise and Pat Renwick, Dona Jahnke and Mikael Guernsey, Veronica Henderson and Vinny Poliseno, and Heather Henderson; great-grandchildren, Anthony Poliseno, Emma and Miranda Renwick and Myia Jahnke; several nieces and nephews.


She was predeceased by her sisters, Dorothy and Al Howard, Helen and Al Wieckhorst, and twin sister, Josephine and Bill Johnson.


Calling hours will be 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, January 2, 2015 at the Heller Funeral Home, 25 Arch St., Schenevus. The recitation of the Rosary will be 2:30 p.m. and a Vigil Service will be 7:30 p.m.


A funeral mass will be 10 a.m. Saturday, January 3, 2015 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Main St., Worcester, with the Rev. Ronald Green, MM, as celebrant. Interment will be at the Schenevus Cemetery.


In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to, St. Joseph's Church, PO Box 156, Worcester, NY, Worcester Emergency Squad, PO Box 191, Worcester, NY 12197, the Westford First Responders, PO Box 187, Westford, NY 13488, C.H. Graham Hose Co., PO Box 116, Schenevus, NY 12155 or the Focus Activities Center, at Focus Rehab and Nursing at Otsego, 128 Phoenix Mills Cross Rd., Cooperstown, NY 13326


Expressions of sympathy may be sent to, www.hellerfuneralhome.com