Obituary of Genevieve Soplop

Genevieve F. Soplop Allegany, NY Genevieve F. Soplop of 110 Clarence St. died peacefully Thursday (October 21, 2010) in her home while surrounded by her loving family. Born August 9, 1919 in Eldred, PA she was the daughter of Homer and Nellie Gardner Cawley. On June 25, 1949 in St. Raphael's Church in Eldred she married John T. Soplop who predeceased her on March 20, 1978. Mrs. Soplop graduated in 1937 from Eldred High School as valedictorian and later from Mansfield State Teachers College in 1941. She also earned her Masters in Education degree from Columbia University in New York City. She was first employed in 1941 by the Eldred Township and Duke Center School Districts for 7 years and later taught elementary education in Olean Public Schools from 1953 until her retirement in 1977. She was an active member of St. Bonaventure Parish in Allegany where she attended daily Mass and Bible Study Class for many years. Declared legally blind in the 1940s due to keratoconus, she traveled to New York City to receive one of the country's first successful corneal transplants. After a long and arduous procedure which included an extended period of lying flat on her back with her head immobilized, her sight was restored on the Feast of St. Lucy, thus her devotion to this patron saint of eyes. She was fondly known by her extended family as the Queen of Cape May, having guided them all to this favorite vacation spot for the past 37 years. Closer to home, she enjoyed being out and about at many local establishments where a glass of white zinfandel was ever at the ready by the knowing and hospitable wait staff. An avid bridge player, she enjoyed playing in her monthly social clubs as well as competing at local, regional and national duplicate games and tournaments. She achieved the coveted status of Life Master in 1990 from the American Contract Bridge League. Surviving are 3 daughters Kathryn (Grayson) Stevens of Oxford, Carmen Soplop and Mary Jo (Scott) Reed, both of Allegany; 7 grandchildren Gretchen Stevens, Magdaline Dychkowski, Zachary Stevens, Hillary Reed, John Reed, Katherine Reed and Bradley Reed and several special and loving nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her husband she was predeceased by a sister June Strickler in 1993 and 1 stepsister Ethelyn Broadbent in 2005. Friends will be received at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean on Sunday from 3-6pm. Funeral services will be held Monday (October 25, 2010) beginning with a prayer service at 9:30am in the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00am in St. Bonaventure Church. Rev. Richard Husted, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Bonaventure Church, Roswell Park Cancer Institute P.O. Box 631, Buffalo, NY 14240 or to the ReHabilitation Center 1439 Buffalo Rd. Olean, NY 14760.