She Was the Daughter of the Late Frank and Gertrude Korosec (Knapp) and the Wife of The

WEST ONEONTA – Mary Stucin, age 100, who farmed with her husband in the Fly Creek Valley for decades, passed away Sunday, Nov. 3, at her home in West Oneonta.

She was the daughter of the late Frank and Gertrude Korosec (Knapp) and the wife of the late John Stucin. The Stucins owned a family farm in Fly Creek Valley until 1974, when they retired to West Oneonta.

Mary emigrated from Slovenia when she was 13 and grew up on her parents’ farm in Schuyler Lake. Her married life with John on the farm was a balancing act of raising children, farming, cooking and hosting legendary family gatherings. She was multitasking before anyone invented the term when she was able to feed family and guests while being a full-time partner in running the farm.

She carried on her Slovenian heritage by enjoying local social gatherings with the Slovenian National Benefit Society and the Farmers’ Independent Benevolent Society at the Cornfield Hall in Fly Creek. She made delicious strudel, poticia and other traditional Slovenian foods. She visited and kept in touch with cousins Minka and Lojska in Slovenia.

Even in her retirement, she had huge flower and vegetable gardens and felt great joy in feeding family, friends or giving away bushels of vegetables. She was a mother to many and easily made connections with friends young and old with her giving spirit. Her greatest delight was to feed and nourish loved ones with her delicious meals. She gave from her heart, freely and often. A devout Catholic, she was first a member of St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Church in Cooperstown and later at St. Mary’s Church in Oneonta.

She is survived by her daughter Mary Ann Hartmann (Joseph) of West Oneonta, her son John Stucin of Fly Creek, her daughter Joan Saboda (Karl) of Troy; six devoted grandchildren, Sarah Hartmann of Brooklyn, Peter Hartmann of New York City, Douglas Stucin and Jamie Stucin of North Augusta, S.C., Brian Saboda (Lauren) of Guilderland and Kevin Saboda of Buffalo; sister Sophie Smith of Gansevoort; sister-in-law Jeanette Korosec of West Winfield and brother-in-law Frank Struckle of Cresco, Pa., and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by three sisters, Jennie McCarthy, Anna Kerzick and Elsie Struckle and brother Frank Korosec.

Visitation will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, St. Mary’s in Oneonta, immediately followed by the funeral mass at 1 p.m. with Rev. David Mickiewicz, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Cooperstown.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Catskill Area Hospice, 1 Birchwood Drive Oneonta, NY 13820; St. Mary’s Church, 39 Walnut St., Oneonta, NY 13820; Farmers’ Independent Benevolent Society (The Cornfield) c/o Deborah Green 224 Bissell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Condolences to the family may be made online by visiting our website at www.grummonsfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.