Beverly A. Chaffie

Beverly A. (Welch) Chaffie, formerly of Interlaken, passed away at Geneva General Hospital on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the age of 91.

Beverly was born on Tickle Hill in Hector on June 22, 1934, a daughter of the late Coral and Annabelle (Button) Welch and from there started a journey that would have her witness a life of amazement and wonderment. Traversing the gorges, glens and Finger Lakes with her best friend Nancy Stewart, she grew up a farm girl and loved riding tractors, horses, playing with her dogs and smoking corn silk.

She graduated from Watkins Glen High School and was on the cheerleading squad there. After graduation she met Neil Chaffie and began a 62-year marriage that packed in a full life of travel and treasured memories. After residing for a short time in Valois, the family moved to Elmira where she welcomed many Elmira Pioneer players and coaches and became a second mom to many of them. Many players on that team went on to win the 1970 World Series. When Neil accepted a position in Dunkirk New York, Bev went to work at Brooks Hospital as a therapy aide - and then seamlessly transitioned to First Lady of Dunkirk when Neil was elected Mayor. She reluctantly accompanied him to many “rubber chicken” dinners.

Her journey continued to Lake Placid New York, and she worked as a receptionist for the Lake Placid NEWS witnessing the 1980 Miracle on Ice. She smiled one of her last smiles when told the USA men and women did it again in 2026.

Moving to Los Lunas New Mexico for semi-retirement she fell in love with Native American culture and attended many pow wows which became her hobby and the events she looked forward to the most. She also witnessed the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon festival with the balloon night glows becoming her favorite part. She found the weather too hot out west and the ground too full of snakes and decided to head back east. Coming full circle, she returned to the Finger Lakes area and worked at Willard Psychiatric Center as a therapist aide until she fully retired and became a full-time grandmother and great grandmother.

Prayers of Committal will be held at 11:00am on Monday, June 22, 2026, at New York State Veteran’s Cemetery – Finger Lakes, 6632 State Route 96A, Romulus.

She is survived by her children, Michael (Leslie) Chaffie, Terry Chaffie, and Tammie Vespe; her grandchildren, Weylin, Morgan, Emily, and Seth; a great grandson, Kyan; and Neil’s sisters, Colleen and Linda. Beverly was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Neil Chaffie in 2015; and brothers, Bruce and William Welch and sisters in law, Leona and Colleen.