by Kathleen Sullivan
Sophie Fedun, the daughter of Alex and Mary Welhan Bagailuk, was born on January 10, 1918, in New York City. She and her brother, Ted, grew up on their family’s farm at the intersection of Mitteer Road and Krum Road in Hurleyville.
Sophie began her education at the schoolhouse on Mitteer Road and graduated from the Hurleyville School on Main Street.
After training in culinary arts, Sophie worked in the kitchen at the Hurleyville School and for 4-H camps. She also worked for the New York Telephone Company on Main Street and was a bookkeeper for the Inter-County Farmers’ Cooperative in Hurleyville until her retirement.
Sophie married George Fedun on June 13, 1937, at the Ukrainian Church in Thompsonville. Their wedding reception was held at the Garden House Hotel on Garden House Road in Hurleyville.
Sophie and George were the parents of four children: George, Pat Gibson, Sonya Robinson and Mari-Jane Conklin.
A charter member of both the Hurleyville Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary and the Luna Organization, Sophie also belonged to the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Woodbourne.
Sophie participated in the Home Bureau. Among its activities, the group shared the quilts they made with others who couldn’t afford to purchase them.
An avid hunter, Sophie also enjoyed working in ceramics.
Sophie delighted in her walks, especially on Main Street, and in visiting her neighbors and her friends.
Sophie passed away on December 22, 2001. She is survived by her children; her grandchildren, Mark Fedun, Peter Fedun, Nancy Bowdren, Gene Gibson, George Gibson, Christopher Gibson, Christina Frunzi, Matthew Robinson, Jeremy Robinson and Daniel Robinson; her great grandchildren; and a large extended family.
Sophie is one of Hurleyville’s many special treasures.
Visit www.hurleyvilleny.com to find more treasures in Hurleyville.