Obituary of Angela Gorka Jones

WATERLOO – Angela G. Jones, 92, of 55 Center St., passed away Monday (January 7, 2019) in Geneva General Hospital with her very loving daughter by her side. Friends may call from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 13) at Coe-Genung Funeral Home. A memorial service will immediately follow at the funeral home. Father James Fennessy of St. Mary's Catholic Church, will officiate. Spring burial will be in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to North Seneca Ambulance, 1645 North Rd., Waterloo, New York, 13165 or NYSAFLT's (New York State Association of Foreign Language Educators) 100K for 100 years fund which supports language teaching and learning. NYSAFLT contributions may be sent to 2400 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14214. Angela was born Oct. 11, 1926, in Nanticoke, PA, the daughter of Stanislaus and Weronika "Alice" Madajewska Gorka. She was a graduate of Nanticoke High School. Angela was a 1947 graduate from Penn State University with a Bachelor's degree and later earned 60 graduate hours at various colleges. Her teaching career spanned thirty nine years teaching in Pennsylvania and Waterloo, New York. While teaching in Waterloo, she began and chaired Waterloo's Language Department and created the Spanish Club. During her tenure as chair, the department received the James E. Allen Distinguished Language Program Award. Angela was the recipient of the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers Friend of Foreign Language Award and the Dorothy S. Ludwig Distinguished Service Award. She also received the Women of Distinction Award from the Waterloo Middle School PRIDE Program and the Unsung Hero Award from the Waterloo High School Women's Studies Club. Angela worked with the Waterloo Rotary Club to establish the Student Foreign Exchange Program which continues today. Angela was awarded the Seneca County Outstanding Senior Award. The Waterloo Library and Historical Society honored her with the Henry C. Welles Award. This is given to a person who embodies the character and commitment of the founder of Memorial Day, Henry C. Welles, for the betterment of our community. She was a proud, founding member of the Celebrate Commemorate Committee and chaired the Welcome Booth for the last twenty years. For the past two years, Angela has been a St. Mary's Festival volunteer selling raffle tickets. She also touched many lives during her 30 plus years as coordinator of the Snapettes Twirling Corps which is a group she loved with all her heart. Angela and her family are New York State Twirling Hall of Fame Inductees. In her retirement from teaching, she owned and operated the Time to Travel Agency enabling hundreds of people to experience new places and cultures. Angela has authored eight published works and most proud of her book, Day of the Dead: a Celebration of Life. This book embodies Angela's zest for life and belief in living each day to its fullest. She is survived by her son, Donald Jones of Waterloo; daughter, Karen (Donald) Moretti of Waterloo; grandchildren: Michael Moretti, Molly (Nick) Budding, and Matthew (fiancée Jessie Manahan) Moretti; special friends: Jane Spiwak, Patti Paine, Douglas Lembke, and many close friends in the area and in Oaxaca, Mexico, which was her home away from home. Angela was predeceased by her parents and sister, Theresa Gelatko. Condolences for the family may be sent to www.coegenungfuneralhome.com.