Madelene Rowena Oestrich, 86, formerly of Nineveh, died Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 surrounded by loved ones at her home in Tallahassee, Fla. She was predeceased by her husband Donald, daughter Elaine Jenks, sister Rebecca Davidson, and brother Joseph Harby Jr.
She is survived by her four daughters, Kathryn Head (Mike), Melanie Yale (Louise), Laura Laub, and Michele Kelly, son-in-law Kirk Jenks (Colleen), grandchildren Wesley (Christine), David (Rachael), Sarah (Tony) and Mary; seven great-grandchildren, sisters Ramona Abbott, Marjorie Curran (Dave) and Susan Loden (Robert), brothers Jack Harby (Sally) and Robert Harby (Kathy) and sister-in-law Carolee Harby, and several nieces and nephews.
Rowena was born on her father’s birthday in Walton on August 18, 1935 and was the oldest of eight children of Joseph and Madelene (Sterns) Harby Sr. She graduated from Walton Central High School and was proud of orchestrating girls to be in the rifle club and workshop. After high school she began work at the Bendix Corp., which is now Amphenol Corporation in Sidney, where she retired as an executive secretary after 25 years of service. She then went to work for Chenango County Catholic Charities. When her husband Don retired, they bought a fifth wheel camper and spent many years traveling from Maine to Alaska and parts in between and then staying in the warm climate of Florida in the winters until health issues prevented them from traveling.
Funeral services will be held at the Osterhoudt-Madden Funeral Home, 69-71 Maple Street, Harpursville, on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 12 noon. Rev. Richard S. Tosh, Pastor of Nineveh Presbyterian Church will officiate. Private burial will be in Nineveh Presbyterian Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Osterhoudt-Madden Funeral on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon prior to the service.
Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to Food Bank of CNY, 7066 Interstate Island Road, Syracuse, NY 13209.
Online condolences may be made at www.omaddenfh.com.
