SHERBURNE – Veneta Rossman Murphy Preston, 83 years, formerly of Sherburne and Earlville, passed away Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 at Crouse Community Center, Morrisville.
She was born May 24, 1927 in Catskill, the daughter of Wilbur and Alice Cummings Rossman. Veneta was a graduate of Earlville Central School in 1945. When she was 38 years old, she attended the Utica School of Beauty and ran a beauty shop for 20 years. She had also attended Empire State College. Veneta was employed by the Area Agency on Aging in Chenango County from 1980 to 1984, the United Methodist Homes in Norwich from 1984 to 1986, and the Madison County Office for the Aging from 1986 to 1988. At the age of 14, she worked as a telephone operator in Earlville. She was an Earlville resident from 1933 to 1980 when she moved to Sherburne. On July 8, 1945, she married Edward W. Murphy who predeceased her on June 4, 1974. On Aug. 30, 2000, she married Robert W. Preston, who predeceased her on June 16, 2005.
Active in community affairs, Veneta was the Chairperson for the March of Dimes in Earlville from 1953 to 1961. She was on the Sherburne-Earlville Athletic Boosters, the Community Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the NIMO Advisory Council and the Village of Earlville Advisory Council. She was also a volunteer for the Domestic Violence Hot Line and Hospice of Chenango County.
Surviving are five children, Edward G. and Kelly Murphy of Leadville, Colo.; Thomas M. Murphy and his companion, Joi Young of Sherburne; Michael W. Murphy of Craig, Colo.; Tracy E. and Thomas Piatti of Sherburne; and Mark E. Murphy of Syracuse; ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a step-daughter, Diana and Daniel Sacco of Watertown, and several step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by two sisters, Karen Schroer and Marjory Dunster.
Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20 from the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 3 Preston St., Earlville.
Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.
Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Monday, Sept. 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. prior to the service.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Sherburne Emergency Squad, PO Box 924, Sherburne, NY 13460.
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.