GLENS FALLS – Thomas J. Hewitt, 90, of Glens Falls, died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014 at Wesley Health Care Center in Saratoga Springs. Cecelia Reed Hewitt, 89, died on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at her home in Glens Falls. After 66 years of marriage, they are together again.
Thomas was born in Hudson Falls on June 18, 1923. He retired from the Hadley Luzerne Central School District after 38 years as a teacher, school business administrator, Interim school superintendent and bowling coach. In 1990, his bowling team won the Class C Sectional Tournament. He retired from the Glens Falls Board of Safety after 25 years serving five mayors. He was a life member of the Eagles of Saratoga Springs, President of the BPOE Elks of Glens Falls in 1981, member of the American Legion in Lake Luzerne, and former president of the Hadley Luzerne Lions Club. He was also very accomplished in the Heimlich Maneuver.
During World War II, he was a Sergeant in the Signal Corps attached to the US Army Air Corps. He was stationed in the French island of Corsica. After leaving Corsica, he was stationed in Florence, Italy, where he lived and worked out of the Swiss Embassy for two years. While on assignment in Rome, he had an audience with Pope Pius XII and treasured the experience of kissing his ring.
Cecelia was born in Hudson Falls on February 3, 1924. As a young woman, she was employed by Stone Photography in Hudson Falls, NY. As a homemaker, she was particularly proud of her two sons and, in her later years, her grandchildren. She always had a very close relationship with all of her grandchildren. When they were together they always found ways of having fun. Some of their best times were playing badminton and croquet, and many lessons were learned while playing store with Gramma Cis. She was extremely generous to all she came in contact with; with her purse in hand, she could be heard asking, “Do you need anything?”. She looked forward to her daily phone calls from her son Gary, her daily routine with her son Michael and her sister’s visits. Both grandparents enjoyed attending their grandchildren’s field hockey, soccer, basketball, track & field, school concerts and plays.
Thomas and Cecelia were married on June 8, 1948, at St. Mary’s Church in Hudson Falls.
They are survived by two sons, Michael Hewitt and his wife Deborah of South Glens Falls and Gary Hewitt and his wife Alice of Rochester, NY. They also leave behind five grandchildren: Danielle (Hewitt) Anderson and her husband Kurt, Carly Hewitt, Dylan Hewitt, Matthew Yurgelun, his fiancé Lori, and Thomas Yurgelun. Cecelia also leaves behind one sister, Margaret Burke and two sister-in-laws, Debbie Reed and Jean Reed.
In addition to their parents, Thomas is predeceased by his two brothers, John (Norma) and William (Joan) Hewitt. Cecelia is predeceased by her two brothers, Edward (Debbie) and Bud (Jean) Reed. They are also survived by many nieces and nephews.
At Thomas and Cecelia’s request, there will be no calling hours.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at St. Mary’s/St. Paul’s Church in Hudson Falls.
Rite of Committal will follow at St. Paul’s Cemetery in the town of Kingsbury.
Memorial donations may be made to Father Baker’s House of Charity, c/o Our Lady of Victory Elementary School, 2760 S. Park Ave., Lackawanna, NY 14218.