Emelia C. '"Mel"' Vanderwarker

Holland Patent/Whitesboro - Mrs. Emelia C. "Mel" VanDerWarker, 83, of Clinton Rd., widow of Robert G., passed away on Thursday, August 28, 2008, at St. Luke's Memorial Hospital, New Hartford. A native of Rome, she was born on June 25, 1925, a daughter of Michael and Lucy Mijan Szmurlo. Mel grew up in Rome, where she graduated from Rome Free Academy. On August 18, 1943, she was united in marriage with Robert G. VanDerWarker in Fargo, North Dakota. After her husband's honorable discharge from service in the U.S. Air Force during WWII, the couple settled in Holland Patent. Mr. VanDerWarker, a former mayor of Holland Patent died on May 12, 1990. For many years Mrs. VanDerWarker was employed at Marcy Psychiatric Center. She was a long time member of the Maynard United Methodist Church, the Crestwood Golf Club, and she enjoyed her membership in AARCH (Adirondack Architectural Heritage, a group concerned with the preservation of the great camps and buildings of the Adirondack region). She greatly enjoyed playing golf, reading, bridge, traveling, and dining out with her many cherished friends. She is survived by one sister, Irene S. Chaplin, New Hartford; one nephew, Michael Chaplin and his wife, Alexa, and their children, Campbell and Joselyn, all of Binghamton; her husband's cousins, Shirley and Jack Opper, Rome, Connie and Jim Roberts, and Diane Spear, all of Holland Patent, and Dr. George H. Kessler and his wife Barbara, Winchester, VA, and Laurie Roberts, Oneida; special friends, Robert and Wanda Goodrow, Holland Patent, and their children, Wendy and Bob. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Service on Saturday, at 2:00 P.M. at the Heintz Funeral Home, Inc., 408 Herkimer Rd. North Utica. There will be no calling hours. Interment will be in South Trenton Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Holland Patent Library or to the South Trenton Cemetery Association.