Jenn E. Hamilton

Jenn Ethel (Brotzman) HamiltonJenn Hamilton was born March 12, 1923 and died on March 4, 2015.She was ninety-two, passing-away just eight days shy of her 92nd birthday. She was the daughter of Homer Ellis Brotzman and Vera (Hay) Brotzman. Mom’s childhood was spent in the Southport area of Elmira, New York, growing-up in the family home on Pennsylvania Avenue. She attended local schools and was a 1941 graduate of Southside High School. Post graduation, she worked as a secretary/clerk for the American-LaFrance Company. She attended Ithaca College as a music major. Mom was a life-long piano player. She was always happiest, when she could play familiar songs and have her family sing-along with her. Mom married her high school sweetheart, Loren V. Hamilton (Bud).The Hamilton’s were also a Southport family and would re-locate to Moravia, New York in 1939.Bud and Jenn knew each other in grade school and on into High School. Despite the separation, their romance continued throughout the war years, culminating in their marriage on May 19, 1945 after Bud’s discharge from overseas service with the USAAF. Their first son, Pete, was born in July, 1946; their second child, a daughter, Susan, arrived in December, 1948; and their second son, Guy, was born in July, 1950. They decided to purchase three acres on Holden Road outside of Pine City, NY. Bud built their first home there and these early family years were filled with raising their children and beginning a small construction business, “Loren Hamilton – Building Contractor,” that would sustain the family and continue until 1966. While Dad was the mainstay of the business, Mom was always taking care of the home front. Business life was difficult for the young couple. While Dad, the house-builder, worked long days, and often a second night-job at a local factory, Mom was always the home-builder, doing anything and everything (pretty much by herself) to maintain a safe, clean and welcoming environment for her family. There were times when she would prepare a supper, pack it up, load up the kids after school and drive to the current job-site, be it in town or out in the country, and we would enjoy some “family time” sitting on saw-horses amid the chaos of construction. The business of building houses, would require many more “moves” than the average family would need to face. Mom accepted this circumstance as a part of their lives. She graciously settled the family into new surroundings (unfinished houses), new neighborhoods, friends and schools.During 1966, Dad began developing a new career as an Architectural Specifications Writer. This started in Elmira and over the ensuing years, would require more moving. They would re-locate to Saratoga Springs NY, Syracuse, NY, Largo, FL, Gadsden, AL and back to Largo, FL. As in the early years, these re-locations were not easy for her, or on her.However, Mom always accepted the changes, establishing and maintaining yet another ”home-base” that the family could return to.Mom would forever consider her “home” as Southport and Elmira.However, the family “home” became wherever Mom and Dad were currently working hard to make their living. After Dad’s death in July, 2003, Mom re-located to Glencoe, Alabama.She was always good at making friends, and enjoyed their company at her apartment and later at the nearby Meadowood Retirement Village.Her daughter Susan, of Gadsden, AL, was always Mom’s angel, instrumental in providing Mom assistance and care giving throughout her later years until her death. Mom was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) through her Brotzman Revolutionary ancestors. She and Dad compiled and published, the genealogies of the Brotzman, Hamilton and Ayers families and several other related family histories. She was a member of the Clan Hay society. Mom was a prior communicant of Trinity Episcopal Church in Elmira, New York. She accepted Christ as her Savior while living in Syracuse, NY. When living in Glencoe, AL, she was baptized at The Tabernacle Church in Gadsden, AL. She also attended the United Methodist Church in Glencoe while she was able; then attended church services at Meadowood Retirement Village while living there. She supported the Jackson Center UMC Church at Jackson Center, PA with tithes while she lived in Alabama and enjoyed reading the monthly mailer that she received.She is survived by several immediate and extended family members: Her three children are:Pete Hamilton (Bonnie Miura Hamilton) of Honolulu, HI, Susan (Hamilton) Nichols (William, dec.), of Gadsden, AL and Guy Hamilton (Marsha Tamura), of Kaneohe, HI. She leaves two grandsons:Taylor Nainoa Miura Hamilton and Scott Keli’i Miura Hamilton, both of Honolulu, HI.She’s also survived by:Her brother and sister-in-law Linn S. Brotzman (Harriett) of Elmira, New York and her sister-in-law, Helen H. Wilber of Moravia, New York.In addition, she is survived by her nephew and several nieces:Mark Brotzman(Kaye), Sue (Brotzman) Milazzo (Charles), Linda (Wilber) Savage (Blair), Nancy (Wilber) Rudl(John), and Diane (Wilber) Selander (John). Mom was a “softie” who loved her immediate and extended families.She was a responsible, loving partner and parent, totally devoted to her husband and children and was always willing to put their needs before her own.If there was a “last-crumb,” she’d want someone else to benefit from it. She inherited an innate sense-of-humor from each of her parents, always willing to be self-deprecating for a slice of goofy humor. She loved slapstick comedy, wry puns and pithy political cartoons. She took the world seriously…but only so far. She was always the best Mom that any Mom could be, and we loved her dearly. Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service honoring Mom’s life on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, at the Jackson Center United Methodist Church, Jackson Center Road, in Jackson Center, PA at 1:00 pm. Food and refreshments will be available directly after the service, at the church. Pastor Lauren Bissonnette will officiate.Interment will follow the next day, Thursday, July 16, 2015, at the Jobs Corners Cemetery, Jobs Corners, PA at 11:00 am.Arrangements have been entrusted to the Olthof Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 Pennsylvania Avenue, Elmira, New York 14904. Attendees are invited to sign a guest register at the church or they may registervia Jenn’s e-guestbook in “obituaries” at www.olthof.com