Evelyn B. Oã‚´Buckley

Age 83, of 236 E. Franklin St., Horseheads, NY, passed peacefully Monday after a brief illness. Born in Elmira August 15th, 1921 to Curtis and Mary Thomas Bennett, 4th of 11 siblings, Evelyn fell 17 years short of her goal of appearing on a Smucker?s jelly jar with Willard Scott on the Today Show. She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Donal, in 2001, her son, Mark, in 2004, as well as her brothers Curtis, Durland, and Shirley Bennett, and sisters Leona Bennett, Vera Roody, and Irma Cole. A graduate of Southside high school, class of 1939, she had perfect attendance for all 12 years. In the 1930?s & 40?s, Evelyn played sax in her family's celebrated dance band, The Curt Bennett Orchestra, playing regularly at The Hay Loft in Pine City, the Horseheads Grange, and other venues. Often in the audience was her soon to be husband, Donal "Pat" O?Buckley who was at first unabashedly attracted to her by her "gorgeous gams." Upon Pat?s return from the war, they married on Pat?s birthday, April 30th, 1949, and moved to Johnson City, NY, for the next 30 or so years. There she joined her husband in another dance band, "The Varitones" playing organ. For many years, Evelyn taught the joys of music to children for the Roberson Center for the Arts in Binghamton, NY, and was the secretary to the Binghamton Symphony & Choral Society and spent many years as a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts and a troop leader for the Girl Scouts. More recently she was given Rotary?s Paul Harris Fellowship Award for her dedication and commitment to educating the youth of the world and actively promoting world peace and understanding as a Host Mother for dozens of Rotary exchange students over the years, as well as for her many years in the Rotary Anns. Last year, she was honored by the World War II Memorial Registry for her years of service as a volunteer firefighter in the Civil Defense and her work on the Norton Bombsight. She has been a member of the D.A.R. and the Eastern Star for decades and a member of the St. Matthew's Episcopal congregation and Altar Guild. For 83 years, she dedicated her life to her family, the betterment of her community as well as world peace and understanding. She is survived by daughters Mary (David) Christiano, Springfield, MO, and Donna (Charles) Baumgartner, Niskayuna, NY, son Craig Wm. O?Buckley of Horseheads, adopted foreign exchange student Junko Fukuda Savage of Little Neck, NY, and close friend and neighbor Ron Charron - her ?unofficial son?. Grandchildren Danielle (Smith), Linda, Andrew and Anthony Christiano as well as Sarah, Lindsay, Holly, and Rachel Baumgartner will miss their "Grammy" very much. She is also survived by her brother Jacob Bennett, Corning, and sisters Valera (Robert) Burnham, Elmira Heights, Ileana (Stanley) Coole, Elmira, Carol Green, of Erin, and her only surviving aunt, Myra Thomas of Lowman - who is gettin? awful close to her own jar of Smucker?s. Evelyn will indeed be missed by the many nieces and nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends that knew and loved her.Family and friends are invited to call at the Olthof Funeral Home, Inc. 1050 Pennsylvania Ave. Elmira, NY on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM. A gathering for a time of reflection will be held there on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 from 12 to 1 PM, followed by her funeral service in St. Matthew?s Episcopal Church, 408 South Main Street, Horseheads, NY at 2 PM, with the Reverend Robert Adkins celebrating Evelyn?s life and honoring her memory. Memorial Donations may be directed to the Arctic League, Inc., 114 West Second Street, Elmira, NY 14901 or to the Chemung County Humane Society and SPCA, 2435 Route # 352, Elmira, NY 14903. A ?Candle of Remembrance? may be left for her family at www.olthof.com.Evelyn will be granted the New Orleans style sendoff that she had requested.