Concetta "Connie" Hook

Mrs. Concetta "Connie" Hook, age 91, of The Absolut, Salamanca, NY, formerly of 21 Quilter Street, Salamanca, NY died Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at Olean General Hospital, Olean, NY.

Born December 12, 1920 in Salamanca, NY she was the daughter of the late Matthew and Frances Conte. She was married on July 21, 1962 to Mr. Robert N. Hook who predeceased her on August 26, 1984.

Mrs. Hook was a retired hairdresser who owned her own shop in Salamanca, NY. She worked in the PX Exchange Stores at the U.S. Marine Corps Bases in Camp Pendleton, California, 29 Palms, California, Quantico, Virginia, and Oahu, Hawaii.

She was a member of the former St. Patrick’s Church, St. Patrick’s Altar & Rosary Society, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and she was a former Catholic Action Sponsor for the Youth Organization. She was awarded the Religious Educator of the Year in October 1993, she received the St. Joseph Worker Award given to outstanding lay men and women on the parish level in April 2007 presented to her by His Excellency Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of the Diocese of Buffalo.. She was awarded the 50+ award as a member of the Xi Beta Tau Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Also, she was one the three recipients of the first Silver Belles Award given for service to family, friends, and community by the Salamanca Area Chamber of Commerce in 2002. Her entire life she dedicated herself to children and their religious education. She considered these children all her "very special angels".

Surviving are: 2 sisters, Katie Barhite, Salamanca, New York, Mrs. Clara (James) Donnellan, Van Heights, Minnesota; 1 brother, Mr. Rocco Conte, San Bernadino, California; several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by 5 sisters, Jo Hill, Ann Carmody, Mary Constantino, Fannie Perry, 2 brothers, Joseph Conte and Dominic Conte.

There will be no visitation.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Our Lady of Peace Parish on Saturday morning at 10:30 AM with Rev. Patrick Melfi, pastor, as celebrant.

Entombment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Salamanca, New York.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, New York.

E-condolences can be sent to john@orourke-orourke.com, or posted to facebook.com/onofh.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Our Lady of Peace Parish, 79 River Street, Salamanca, NY.