AFTON – Avelda Marie Hanssen Daly, 96, of South Pasadena, Fla. and formerly of Afton and Afton Lake, Chenango County, passed away April 23, 2007 at Clearwater, Fla. following a brief illness.
Friends, neighbors, family, members of The American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, the Norwich Elks Club and the Afton Sertoma Club, and anyone who knew and loved Avelda are invited to attend a Memorial Eucharist Service at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, 125 Main Street in Afton at 10 a.m. this Saturday morning, Sept. 22, to remember and celebrate her life, which service will be followed by the interment of her remains at Afton Glenwood Cemetery at 11:30. Thereafter all are invited to attend a luncheon reception at The Olde Jericho Inn in Bainbridge.
Avelda was born April 22, 1911, in Monticello, IA, the eldest of nine children of Arthur E. and Blanche Eilers Hanssen. She was predeceased by brother Otto “Bud” Hanssen and sisters Margaret M. Starkey, Muriel F. Highley and Dorothy L. Lloyd, and was survived by brothers Paul A. Hanssen (Margaret) of San Diego, CA and George L. Hanssen (Ruth) of Accokeek, MD and sisters Eileen B. Villagrana of Phoenix, AZ and Mary J. Jones (Ezra) of Monticello, IA.
Immediate members of Avelda’s family surviving her are sons George A. Coffin (Kathy) of La Mesa, CA and Michael F. Daly of Albany, and stepsons David T. Daly of Olean and Oneonta, NY and Joseph A. Daly (Sue) of Berkeley, CA. Her son Thomas P. Daly predeceased her in 2001. Also, daughters-in-law Sonia Daly of Oneonta, NY, Ann C. Daly of Albany, and Maria V. Daly of Largo, FL, grandchildren Thomas Daly (Ann) of Bremerton, WA, Sabrina Daly of New York City, NY, David Daly of Portland, OR, Christopher Daly (Jennifer) of New York City, NY, Timothy Daly of Washington, DC, Alexander Daly of Cleveland, OH, Adrienne Daly of Largo, FL, and Melissa Coffin Nabors (Jason) of La Mesa, CA, three great-grandchildren, special niece Patricia Lynch of Titusville, FL, and twenty-three other nieces and nephews.
After graduation from Monticello High School in 1928 Avelda taught in Indian and public schools in South Dakota, where she attended Spearfish Normal School (now known as Black Hills State Teachers College), and where she married Derwood Coffin in 1930. Subsequently the Coffins moved to San Diego, CA, where following the dissolution of that marriage she met and later married David F. Daly in 1946. At that time she moved to Afton, NY where she resided for over 50 years, retiring to Florida in 1997. Avelda and Dave were the well known proprietors of The Afton Inn until 1969 when illness forced his retirement. David Daly passed away in 1981.
Even in her earliest days in Afton Avelda achieved immediate fame as an extraordinary cook, and over the next several decades was accorded honor after honor as witnessed by annual ribbons and prizes from all the local and county fairs, and from The New York State Fair in Syracuse, culminating in a national award from Fleischmann’s Yeast for “Mama’s Cinnamon Buns.” Her own personal pride was the publication in 1979 of “Bring a Covered Dish,” a lifetime collection of recipes from all regions of the country which she created for St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in honor of the 25th anniversary of their annual Sharing of the Greens. The book went on to three printings and remains available today. Avelda was also devoted to the work of The American Legion Women’s Auxiliary which she served for over 50 years, and in 1997 was recognized by that organization as New York State Woman of the Year. Together with her husband Dave, Avelda was a backbone of the Afton Sertoma Club organized in 1959, and by whom she was regularly honored for service. Avelda was also a stalwart parishioner of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church as their kitchen and food chairman for many years. Her Huckleberry Buckle, Tom’s Cowboy Cookies, Key Lime Pie to die for, and her legendary casserole for 12 made from a single scrawny chicken, will be greatly missed.