Obituary of Erma H. McCarthy

Erma H. McCarthy Pittsford: Erma H. McCarthy, age 93, died Monday June 8, 2020 at Highlands Living Center, in Pittsford, NY. There will be no prior calling hours. A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family in Altay Cemetery, Six Corners Rd., Altay, NY with Lay Speaker Floyd Wicker Jr. officiating. Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to American Cancer Society, 1400 Winton Road North, Rochester, NY 14609-5896; the Guiding Eyes for the Blind 611 Granite Springs Rd. Yorktown heights, NY 10598; or to Lollypop Farm 99 Victor Rd. Fairport, NY 14450. Erma was born December 27, 1926 in the Town of Tyrone, NY, the daughter of the late Berlyn and Florence {Losey} Gardner. She graduated from Dundee Central School in 1944. After working for 4 years at Gleason Works in Rochester she returned to school at Taylor University in Indiana, receiving her Bachelor degree in Music in 1951. She became a Music Teacher, working in Portland Indiana for 4 years before returning to New York and teaching in Watkins Glen; while continuing her education earning her Master's Degree from Ithaca College in 1962. Accepting a position in East Irondequoit High School she would teach for 24 years retiring in 1982. On August 2, 1983 in Penfield, NY she married the late Jack A. Bowdey, who passed away on March 17, 2007. Mrs. McCarthy was a member of the Altay Baptist Church, the N.Y.S. Retired Teachers Assoc., enjoyed memberships in Euchere Clubs, Bird Watching organizations, and Golf Clubs. In her spare time she enjoyed square dancing, bike riding hiking, and cross country skiing Having no children of her own; she is survived by 2 stepdaughters Lisa Bowdey of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Lynn Schindler and family of Raleigh, North Carolina; a sister-in-law Margaret (Meg) Park Bowdey and family of Boulder, Colorado; and several cousins, Elaine Kopsaftis, husband Peter & family, Peggy Gardner Everett, Bill Gardner, Esther Gardner Andrews, and Ronnie Hadden, husband of deceased cousin Eileen Gardner Hadden Arrangements entrusted to the Baird Funeral Home, 36 Water Street, Dundee, NY. Online condolences can be sent by visiting www.bairdfuneralhomedundee.com.