Obituary of Collette M. Hanretty

Collette M. Kistner Amell Hanretty Utica, NY I, Collette M. Hanretty, 79, of Utica, passed away on September 4, 2009 at the Heritage Health Care Center, with my loving family by my side. I was born the daughter, of Francis Adam and Margaret Cummings Kistner, on February 1, 1930, in Utica. I graduated from Sauquoit Valley Central School and received some college, with a degree in interior decorating, which was my favorite work. I worked at General Electric in Utica for 30 years until my retirement in 1985. I later filled in taking care of senior citizens at the Eastern Star Nursing Home in Oriskany until 1995, when my health began to fail. I belonged to All Saints Episcopal Church in Utica. I married Lawrence Amell of Herkimer, then later married Francis (Frank) Hanretty of Utica on July 25, 1958. Frank assisted me throughout my illness's and was there until the end. I am survived by my husband Frank Hanretty of Forestport; two daughters and sons-in law, Sylvia Jean and William Addington Sr. of Harker Heights, TX, Colleen Marie and Charles Titus III of Clark Mills; four grandchildren, William Addington Jr., Christina and Brian Newman all of TX, Charles Titus IV of Utica, Tanya Titus and fianc Richard Phillips of Rome; seven great grandchildren, which I adored, Brandon and Charles Newman of TX, Gabriella Titus, Charles (Charlie), Heavenly, and Trinity Phillips all of Rome, and Amelia Titus of Clark Mills; and numerous friends. Funeral service will be held at 12:00 Noon, Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at the Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, Inc., 35 College St., Clinton, NY 13323. Relatives and friends may call Tuesday, September 8, 2009 from 10AM until the time of the service. Burial will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery. Her Struggle: Collette, as a child, suffered a tremendous hearing loss due to infections that were virtually left untreated. Since this left her with only a slight ability to hear, she was taken to Rome to learn lip reading. As a teenager in high school she had to wear large hearing aids that were powered by a large battery that hung from her neck. Because of this, she suffered the taunts of her classmates and at times retreated in tears to the girl's room. And if that wasn't enough to humiliate her, she was sometimes called "dummy" because her speech was affected by her hearing loss. She tried so hard to "belong" as a teenager like the others but that never happened. She was made to feel unwanted as a person and the emotional scars from all of this stayed with her the rest of her life. Sometimes in life we learn manners from those who have none, such as it was with Collette. She was determined not to let this define her as a person, and as a young woman made many friends who loved her very much. She also had a wonderful talent for interior decoration and expressed herself through this art form. She lived her life with courage and determination and was loved by her family and the many friends she met along the way. Collette received daily doses of loving care and respect from the nursing staff and the other care givers at the Heritage HCC who treated her as their own.