Violet C. Jankowski

Age 77 of Elmira, NY went to Heaven on Friday, February 11, 2005.She was born in Boone, NC in 1928, the daughter of the late Millard and Zora (Moretz) Castle and the 11th child of 16 children. Her parents moved to Canton, PA when Violet was 3 years old. After graduating high school and life on the family farm, she moved to Elmira, NY where she held several jobs, until she married the love of her life, the late Thomas Jankowski, and began her career as a stay-at-home mother. Later in life, she returned to the job market and managed the key department at Sears. Violet loved her homegrown flowers, fruit & ?veggies?, and loved to pick berries and apples with her sisters. She had a passion for antiques and a gift for finding garage sale treasures. She was a fierce competitor at cards, and especially loved playing ?pounce? or Shanghai rummy with family and friends. Violet was known for her beautiful penmanship and for her pies & spaghetti, which were beyond compare. Along with her parents and husband, Vi was predeceased by her granddaughter; Wendy Marie Jankowski, grandson; Patrick Silvers, brothers Ben, Robert, Arnold and Jim Castle, sisters; Edith Cole and Shirley Metzger. She will be sorely missed by her surviving children; Ted (Fran) Jankowski of Erin, NY, Ken (Donna) Jankowski of Clearwater, FL, Cindy (Jim) Stover of Sedro-Woolley, WA, Charlie (Mary) Jankowski of Louisville, KY and Jake (Nancy) Jankowski of Chemung, NY; surviving siblings; Millard Jr., Alfred, and Frank Castle, Lola Stanbury, Lila (Jasper) Smith, Eva (John) Govus, Ruby Conley, Mabel Avery and Edna (Bob) Groover. She is also survived by in-laws; Joseph Jankowski, Josephine Colburn, and Joyce Jankowski, along with special friends, Ann Evans, Ellen Gerow and Wanda Harbol, also many special nieces, nephews, and eight grandchildren.Family and friends are invited to call at Olthof Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 Pennsylvania Ave., Elmira on Monday, February 14, 2005 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with Funeral Service there Tuesday at 11:00 AM, followed by graveside service at Woodlawn National Cemetery. Those wishing may make memorials to the Southern Tier Hospice & Palliative Care Inc., 11751 E. Corning Rd., Corning, NY 14830.Those wishing may leave a ?Candle of Remembrance? for the family in Obituaries at www.olthof.com. The family would like to extend a special thanks to our friends at Hospice, their neighbors and family who provided loving care.