Viola Painter

Viola F. Painter, 90, of Olean, NY, formerly of Salamanca, NY died Friday morning, May 12, 2017 at the Pines Healthcare & Rehabilitation, Olean, NY following a long illness.

Born September 12, 1926 in Wherim, PA, she was the daughter of the late Camille DeFalco and Emma Marie Trabaudo DeFalco Town. She was married on May 16, 1946 in Brockway, PA to James W. Painter, who predeceased her on June 12, 1990.

She had been employed at the former Mason’s Shoe Store and the former Salamanca Outdoor Store and the JJ Newberry Company. She volunteered at the Salamanca Hospital, the American Red Cross, and the Board of Elections. She also served on the Town of Salamanca Council.

She had been adopted into the Seneca Nation of Indians Hawk Clan by George Heron in 1997. She was a member of the Jimersontown Presbyterian Church and had previously attended the United Congregational Methodist Church in Salamanca. She was also active in the Seneca Nation of Indians Senior Citizens Group, Zonta, and the Salamanca Sports Booster Club.

Mrs. Painter earned her GED at age 63 and was the Salutatorian of her class. She wrote poetry, some of which has been published. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, cooking, sewing, and bowling, and was the first recipient of the Silver Bell Award.

Surviving are: three sons, James (Florence) Painter, Dennis (Gabriela) Painter, both of Jamestown, NY, William (Nan) Painter, Salamanca, NY; two daughters, Wendy Donahue, Salamanca, NY, Denise Rauh, Jamestown, NY; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Donna Pifer, Brockway, PA, Virginia Hamilton, San Diego, CA, Alexis Johnson, Brockway, PA, Rose Ann Cantola, Niles, OH; two brothers, Lewis Town, Idaho Falls, ID, Steven (Suzanne) DeFalco, Vandergrift, PA; two sisters-in-law, Toni (widow of Gene) DeFalco, Wichita, KA, Donna Town, Dubois, PA; a dear friend, Ken Watt.

She was predeceased by a granddaughter, Rebecca Painter, three sisters, Margaret Mancini, Janet Oakes, Linda Bellam, and three brothers, William Town, Gene DeFalco, and Guerino DeFalco.

Friends may call at the O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, NY on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 from 4 – 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor John Walter, Jimersontown Presbyterian Church, officiating.

Burial will be in Crawford Cemetery, Salamanca, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the American Diabetes Association.

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