Obituary of Laura Louise Hotaling

Laura Louise Hotaling, 97, Norwich, NY, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 11, 2020, at The Norwich Rehabilitation Center in Norwich, NY. Laura, known to many as "Louise", was born April 19, 1922 in Warwick, NY, the youngest child of Frank H. (Jr.) and Annie (Charlesworth) Smith. The family, which included her sister Jennie Edna, and her brother Lester, moved to Delhi, NY, when Laura Louise was a young child. She attended school in Delhi and graduated from Delaware Academy with the class of 1940. While a student there, she became friends with Barbara "Jo" R. Oliver; they remained friends all their lives. In July 1940, Laura married Robert Meehan in St. John's Episcopal Church in Delhi. They lived in Delhi before moving to Sidney, NY. Laura Louise was employed at Montgomery Ward, Keith Clark, and, finally, Bendix (now Amphenol), from which she retired. After losing her husband Robert in 1977 to leukemia, in September 1979 she married Donald Hotaling at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Unadilla, NY. Laura's hobbies were many and varied and included all nature of needlecraft, painting, and reading, the results of which are treasured by her family. She was a voracious reader and passed on the love of books to her descendants. She loved animals and her home always included dogs and cats. With a secret known only to her, no cat ever scratched anything, ever. During her life, Laura Louise maintained many long-term and close friendships. She leaves to mourn her loving daughter Roberta Meehan (Anthony DeMarchi), whom she inspired, Columbus, NJ, and her loving daughter/caregiver/companion Sylvia VanDeusen (Robert) South Otselic, NY; her beloved grandchildren, David J. Barnhart, Sherburne, NY, and Jessica VanDeusen, Plymouth, NY, and her adored greatgrandchildren, Kyle, Dakota, and Dalton Barnhart, on whom she showered unqualified love. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and their families to whom she was "Aunt Louise", including Raymond Selleck, Elizabeth (Selleck) Goodrich, Harold E. Smith, Jr., Vivian (Smith) Schafer, Donna (Selleck) French and Patricia (Meehan) Lerch. She will be sorely missed by Bobby and Tammi Lynn VanDeusen and their families and Paul (Laurna) Hotaling and Patricia Whitmarsh, and their families. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Robert Meehan, her husband Donald Hotaling, her brother Lester C. Smith, her sister Jennie Edna (Smith) Selleck, her brother Harold E. Smith, Sr., and very recently, her sister-in-law, Pearl Gesell Meehan. Her daughters, Roberta and Sylvia, extend special thanks and much gratitude to those who helped and cared for their mother: Dr. Rani Kapur-Pado and the staff at Tri-Town Regional Hospital, whose constant caring and respectful treatment enabled Laura Louise's long life; Sylvia Walker, a devoted friend, loving helper, and now member of the family; and the staffs at Chenango Memorial Hospital and the Norwich Rehabilitation Center. Further, Roberta and Sylvia are grateful for the prayers, visits, phone calls, and cards Laura Louise received. Per Laura Louise's express request, there will be no formal services. Her cremation and final disposition are in the loving and respectful care of C. H. Landers, Inc., Sidney, NY. Inurnment will be in East Guilford Cemetery. In her memory, those who wish are invited to make contributions to the Delaware Valley Humane Society, 17420 County Rd 23, Sidney, NY, 13838 or to the Chenango SPCA, 6160 County Road 32, Norwich, NY 13815. Share condolences and memories with the family online at www.landersfh.com.