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FUNERAL HOME

Amigone Funeral Home, Inc. - Amherst Chapel - Williamsville

5200 Sheridan Drive

Williamsville, New York

Gretchen Stringer Obituary

STRINGER - Gretchen (nee Engstrom) January 6, 2009, age 83; beloved wife of the late Loren F. Stringer; loving mother of Lizbeth, Pamela, Frederick (Lisa) and William (Giselle Maira) Stringer; cherished grandmother of Elspeth and Neil. The family will be present on Friday from 2-4 and 6-9 PM at the (Amherst Chapel) AMIGONE FUNERAL HOME INC., 5200 Sheridan Drive (Corner of Hopkins Road) where funeral services will be held on Saturday at 1:00 PM. Friends invited. On-line guest register at www.AMIGONE.com.

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Published by Buffalo News on Jan. 8, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Gretchen Stringer

17 Entries

Valerie Sonnenfeld

January 20, 2009

To Gretchens family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
I was blessed to have known Gretchen for over 15 years of being a vawny member with her. She was a real inspiration to all of us and she will be greatly missed. I will always remember her cute little smile that she would always greet people with.

Joanne Correll

January 12, 2009

I will always remember when Gretchen came to visit me, and gave me much encouragement when I was very sick after my daughter was born. I still remember what she told me, and I have thought of her many times during the years.

Joanne Correll

Dawn Fritzinger

January 10, 2009

As a Past President of Girl Scouts, I want to offer my sincere condolenses to the Stringer family. In Girl Scouts we strive to help girls have courage, confidence, and character. I think Girl Scouts did a good job with Gretchen and she in turn worked diligently with the girls and young women of our council. Gretchen made this promise: On my honor I will try, to serve God and my country. To help people at all times and to live by the Girl Scout law. Fine job Gretchen. Green angel now? Absolutely!

Chelly Coyle

January 10, 2009

Gretchen was above all others things a inspiration for living life. She as a rock and a mentor for me. She helped me celebrate getting my masters degree, the birth of my son and the launching of my professional career. I'll never forget those inaugural years of VANNY. The National Volunteers Conference held in Buffalo, organized and staffed by a bunch of very hard working volunteers lead by Gretchen, and yes, even the year we had a volunteer parade down Delaware Avenue!
Gretchen you will be missed.
My sincerest thanks to her family for sharing her with so many others. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

PJ Estevez

January 9, 2009

I will always remember your caring nature and our little chat
regarding how important it is to volunteer with organizations that
inspire us, no matter the affiliation "it is the sentiment and desire that
counts." You will always be an inspiration in my life. God bless
you, your family and all of us touched by your enduring and caring
soul. We will never forget your kindness.

harvey and myra horowitz

January 9, 2009

to all of gretchens' family. she will be missed very deeply. she was a very giving person. my husband worked with loren at westinghouse. she was always thinking of everyone. her family was very dear to her. our sincere and heartfelt sympathy goes out to the entire family.

Adriene Emmo

January 9, 2009

Gretchen's smile always made me smile. She told me that she loved the excitement in my eyes but she was the one who put the excitement there. I know that she was a mentor to many and loved by many. Along with the multitutes, I will miss her very much.

Patricia Dowling

January 9, 2009

Gretchen taught us the value of volunteering, and the value of volunteers. She often reminded us that organizations don't "use" volunteers, they "engage" or "involve" them. When she spoke to those of us involved in volunteer services, we could tell that she was so proud of her offspring" and the way that volunteer services have grown. She was a mentor, a friend, and a great lady too.

Laura Mondello, Patricia Moran, Gretchen, & Mary Lou Tarquini interview on the Network of Aging in WNY show.

Patricia M. Moran

January 9, 2009

To Gretchen's Family, Friends, & Colleagues,
I was so sorry to hear of the loss of our dear Gretchen. She was a "one of a kind" individual. Mother, grandmother, wife, friend, mentor, co-worker, role model, volunteer, community activist, teacher, leader, and more, all roles she proudly performed through her extraordinary and fulfilling life.

Gretchen gave so much of herself and never asked for anything in return. There are not many individuals like her.

As a member of Volunteer Administrators of WNY (VAWNY) since 1994, I was fortunate to have Gretchen as my role model, mentor and friend. She believed in me as she believed in all of the members of this wonderful group she founded.

In my role as President of VAWNY, Gretchen always encouraged me and praised the progress the members of our Executive Team had made since the inception of VAWNY in 1980.

In 2004-05 our group established an award in her honor, for the Volunteer Manager who exemplifies the qualities Gretchen possessed. To be nominated for this award, the Gretchen E. Stringer Volunteer Administrator Award, was an honor but to be selected by the Committee led by Gretchen was a truly amazing achievement, as it meant the person was making strides in the Volunteer Management Field (as Gretchen had).

Gretchen leaves behind many iniatives that bettered our community (with volunteers as well as other interests) and many friends that feel blessed to have known her, learned from her and loved her.

She will be missed by all of her VAWNY family, especially myself. I can see her now helping God and as she has become one his angels, guiding all of us as we make our community a better place.

Carmaletta Zandi

January 9, 2009

It was a blessing to have known such a wonderful lady. She helped to inspire me to continue on my journey and it only takes one to make a difference. She will be greatly missed. Sending all my love.

Claire and Dick Velzy

January 8, 2009

Gretchen was my cousin but also in many ways a 'big sister'. She, her sister, and I grew up in Pittsburgh and spent many happy times together. Some were celebrating our joint Swedish heritage and others were just having fun together. Our extended family gatherings included Swedish Christmas Eves and all of our
weddings. Her father Birger gave me away when Dick and I married and
Lizbeth and Pamela were our flower girls 50 years ago. We always stopped to visit Gretchen and family when we were in Buffalo visiting Dick's family. We will have many happy memories of the times spent with Gretchen.
Claire Engstrom Booher Velzy

Cyndi Horrigan

January 8, 2009

Dear Gretchen,
I will remember you as a mentor and friend in Junior League and a wonderful gardening volunteer of the Martin House with your straw hat, pillow, wonderful sense of humor and sunny smile. Mike and I will miss you.

Mary Lou Tarquini de la Plante

January 8, 2009

We were saddened to hear of C.V.A. Gretchen E.'s passing and will miss her leadership, guidance and spunk! In 1980 she founded the Volunteer Administrators of Western New York to increase the awareness, comraderie and respect of this vital community service. This was but one of her many significant civic accomplishments. Gretchen's spirit is honored annually when bestowing the award so aptly named for her. A life well-lived & treasured. Peace.
Her VAWNY colleagues

Marie Coppola

January 8, 2009

Gretchen has been a role model for me for many years. I worked with her on the 2001 Womens Pavilion and admired her organizational ability, sociability, warmth, finesse and tact. She was a great person.

Patricia Maloney

January 8, 2009

Gretchen was like no other--her energy, enthusiasm, and kindness to all she encountered made all of us better people. She was one of the most delightful people to walk in our world. Prayers and sympathy to the Stringer family and Gretchen's many friends and associates. I will also think of her carrying the Olympic torch.

Kristina Nordby

January 8, 2009

To Gretchen's Family, We were sorry to read that your mom died. Your dad was Craigs boss many years ago at Westinghouse. We always had a great time at their parties. Your mom was a terrific woman who gave so much of herself. It has been nice to read about her over the years through the Bee. I know how much she cherished all of you and that you will miss her deeply. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Warm regards, Craig and Kris Nordby

Beth Simons

January 8, 2009

My thoughts and prayers go out to Gretchen's family. Gretchen was an extraordinary woman who loved life and the people around her, especially her children who she spoke of often. Her warmth, intelligence, sense of humor and wonderful smile will be deeply missed!

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