Obituary of Loretta Eaton

Loretta M. Eaton Allegany, NY Loretta M. Eaton of 3115 Smith Hollow Rd. and a former longtime resident of the Five Mile Road passed away Sunday (March 9, 2014) at the Wakemed Raleigh Campus in Raleigh, NC. Born February 20, 1928 in Bradford, PA she was the daughter of Hattie Luella Yale Mason. On May 15, 1948 in Allegany she married Daniel F. Eaton, Sr. who had been a classmate and fellow graduate of Allegany High School. He predeceased her March 20, 1999. Mrs. Eaton was at first a homemaker and when she and her husband Dan's fourth child arrived, she was a special needs child. Told to institutionalize her, they instead brought her home and loved her. In trying to find a local school for her, nothing existed at that time. They and several other parents of special needs children founded the first classroom for retarded children in the area. That first effort grew and expanded in to what is now the ReHabilitation Center. She was a member of St. Bonaventure Church and the Catholic Daughters of America and was the church secretary there for over 25 years and loved every minute of it. In addition to her wonderful smile she also had a beautiful voice and sang in the church choir for a few years. Family was her priority and she and Dan were always hosting some kind of party at the farm. Whether it was a family get-together, family reunion, 4th of July party or Christmas party, there was always that feeling of love, laughter and happiness. Together they loved to take all of their grandchildren out for dinner, spoiling them by letting them order whatever they wanted. At home, family and friends always knew there were her famous sour cream and chocolate chip cookies waiting in the cookie jar. As a wife, mother, grandmother and friend she was a very giving woman who helped with whatever was needed. It is comforting to know she and Dan are finally together, laughing and dancing and watching over all of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Surviving are 2 sons Daniel (Reba) Eaton, Jr. of Magnolia, TX and Patrick (Polly) Eaton, Sr. of Allegany; 3 daughters Kathryn (Bill) Childs of Bangor, ME, Margaret Eaton of Allegany and Elaine (Mike) Freeborn of Wake Forest, NC; 12 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; 1 brother Jack (Shirley) Mason of Limestone and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and mother she was predeceased by her stepfather John Mason; a son Michael John Eaton; a granddaughter Michelle Freeborn-Miller; 3 sisters and 3 brothers. Friends may call at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean on Friday from 2-4 & 7-9pm. A prayer service will be held Saturday (March 15, 2014) at 9:00am in the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 9:30am at St. Bonaventure Church. Rev. James Vacco, OFM, pastor, will be the celebrant. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in memory of Loretta be made to the ReHabilitation Foundation, Attn: Eaton Family Memorial, 1439 Buffalo Rd. Olean, NY 14760