Obituary of Elvira M. Bush

Elvira M. “Vi” Bush Loving wife, mother, and grandmother” Allegany, NY Elvira M. “Vi” Bush, of 100 William St., entered into eternal rest on Tuesday (February 20, 2024) at the Olean General Hospital. She passed in the loving presence of both her husband of 64 years, and her cherished family. Born October 20, 1932 in Centerville, NY she was the daughter of William and Mary Landrich Thurber. Vi graduated from Cuba Central School and obtained her LPN degree in Buffalo. She became a Registered Nurse after attending school at Orange County Community College. She worked in nursing in many capacities. As a young nurse working for Cuba Memorial Hospital, she helped bring a young man, Robert H. Bush, back to health over a period of many months. They married at Our Lady of Angels Church in Cuba on August 22,1959 and recently celebrated 64 years of marriage. She worked for a long time as the charge nurse at St. Francis Hospital in the pediatric department. After leaving that position, she and her husband moved to Pennsylvania where she was a nursing home administrator in the Scranton area, and later in the Binghamton, NY area. Upon returning to Allegany, she was an administrator at Underwood Manor in Hinsdale. Vi was a longtime member of St. Bonaventure Church. She enjoyed many years of visiting Cuba Lake with her family, and in recent years she and her husband enjoyed socializing with friends at the Senior Lunch Program at the John Ash Community Center. Her love of family, cooking family meals and baking cakes for all occasions are what those she leaves behind will remember most. She is survived by her husband Robert; 4 children, Julie Taylor Relyea (Greg) Eiffert of Auburn, Gloria (James) Arveseth of Olean, Monica (Duane) Thomas of Olean, and Bradley Bush of Endicott; 11 grandchildren, Mike (Patti) Taylor, Molly (Nick) Kinner, Kristina Taylor, Brent Taylor, Corrine Taylor, Heather (Nick) Allen, Gregory (Shine Gonzalez) Taylor, Jessica (Matthew) Witte, Brook (Colton) Bly, Samantha Thomas, and Sara Thomas; 4 great grandchildren, Tristen Taylor, Hannah Taylor, Ryker Kinner, and Rylyn Kinner; and nieces, Micki (Jim) Stout, Toni (Mark) Bohn, and Riley (Carol) Thurber. She was predeceased by a daughter Brenda Bush in 1991, a brother Howard Thurber, and a niece Marysue Shiltz. The family will receive friends on Monday (February 26, 2024) from 4-7pm at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Rd., Olean. Visitation will continue at the funeral home on Tuesday (February 27, 2024) from 9-10am. A prayer service will begin at 10am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am in St. Bonaventure Church. Rev. Peter Bassey will be the celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels of the Department of Aging, 1 Leo Moss Drive, Olean, NY 14760. Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.