Obituary of Elsie Bernice Stauber Wildman

Elsie Bernice Stauber Wildman Obituary 09/10/2023 Elsie Bernice Stauber Wildman passed away peacefully into the arms of her Savior on Sunday, September 10, 2023 with loving family members by her side. Elsie was born September 30, 1924 on a small farm in Summer Hill, NY. Due to the absence of her mother at the age of 2, she spent many of her early years living in the children's home on Port Watson Street. Her dad would come, get her and her younger brother and spend weekends on the farm which she truly enjoyed. When she became a teenager, her dad brought her to live with him in McGraw and she graduated from McGraw High School in 1943. She went on to study nursing at Crouse Hospital and graduated with her RN in 1946. Once she finished nursing training, she moved back to Cortland and began working in the nursery at Cortland Memorial Hospital. She married Basil Wildman in 1948 and they had four children; Kelvin, Kenneth, Lynne, and Lauraine. In 1973 Elsie became an industrial nurse for Brewer-Titchener. She handled shop related injuries and insurance issues. She retired after 17 years there. In her retirement, she babysat for a family that became very dear to her and they always referred to her as their New York Grandma. Elsie loved to help people and gave of her time to the Office of The Aging where she did blood pressure checks for people who would stop in. She also volunteered at Guthrie-Cortland Medical Center at the information desk. She loved meeting new people and helping direct them wherever they needed to go. She was also a member of the Cortland Retired Nurses. Elsie loved the Lord. You would frequently find her at her kitchen table reading and re-reading her bible. As a child she would attend church with her friends from the Children's home and after Sunday dinner they would gather together and discuss what they had heard. She loved to be in church on Sunday morning or in her later years when she couldn't physically attend church, she would listen to a sermon CD from Grace Christian Fellowship or read a sermon that arrived in the mail from United Presbyterian Church. She would watch sermons on TV when she could figure out the technology or when someone could help her. She prayed often and was a very faithful prayer warrior. Next to the Lord, Elsie loved her children and her family, both related and chosen. They brought her great joy. She would sacrifice her time, talent and treasure to help whenever she was needed although to her it was never a sacrifice. She demonstrated her love by being helpful whenever she could. Elsie looked for the good in people and was always interested in learning about you and your family. She especially loved the little ones. They could always make her smile. She was humble, loving, helpful and kind. She was always looking for ways to quietly help others from dropping off a loaf of bread she had just baked, sending a card or a quick note for a birthday or anniversary, or bringing in the neighbor's trash bins from the curb. She did this up to the age of 96. Elsie lived her life according to her belief in Jesus and firmly believed she was blessed beyond measure. Elsie was predeceased by her son Kelvin Wildman and her son-in-law Willis Newman and her brother Frederick Stauber. She is survived by her son Kenneth (Lynda) Wildman, daughters Lynne Curtis and Lauraine Newman, her daughter-in-law Donna (Kelvin Wildman) Hickling, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be held at Grace Christian Fellowship in Cortland on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 10am to be followed by a celebration of life at 11am. A graveside service for family will be held at a later date. Donations in memory of Elsie may be sent to Grace Christian Fellowship, 1250 Fisher Ave, Cortland, NY 13045 or to United Presbyterian Church, 25 Church Street, Cortland, NY 13045. Wright-Beard Funeral Home, Inc is assisting the family with arrangements. To offer condolences online visit www.wright-beard.com