Obituary of Gilberta M. Trani

Mrs. Gilberta M. Trani, 97 of 2525 Widewater Lane, Skaneateles, New York passed away Sunday March 5, 2017 at her home, surrounded by her family. A native of Elkhart, Indiana she was the daughter of Jacob and Jane A. (Atkinson) Van Schaffel. Mrs. Trani was a 1941 graduate of Kings County School of Nursing, 1961 graduate of De Paul University, in 1963 she earned her Master’s Degree from the University of Chicago and in 1978 a Doctorate degree from Nova University. Her career included serving, as a Surgical Nurse at King’s County Hospital, the Naval Shipyard during WWII, a private duty nurse, a charge nurse and Assistant Director of Nursing at Methodist Hospital in Gary, Indiana, Director of Nursing at Sellersville Hospital, Pa and Episcopal Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. In 1972 she became the Dean of Applied Sciences and Health and Human Services at Delaware County Community College retiring in 1984. Never one to idle, she continued nursing with the VNA, and became the night supervisor at Castle Rest Nursing Home, Syracuse from 1995 to 2003. She was awarded the Central New York Nurse of Distinction in 1994. Her hobbies included reading, knitting, Cross Stitching. She loved garage sales, gambling, traveling far and near to Hawaii, Spain, Bahamas, Las Vegas and traveled by Amtrak across country at the age of 91. Over the years her witty, sarcastic stubborn unfiltered and optimistic attitude guided a stupendously healthy lifestyle, until her recent rapid decline. Surviving are her family, beloved Mother of Michael Louis Trani, Mary Jane Trani of Skaneateles and Margaret Ann Lowell ( Jonathan Lowell M.D.) Shelburne, VT. Grandmother of Jane Ann Lowell M.D. (Derek Poirier), Suzanne Marchelewicz (Paul), and Julie Lowell (Tim Collins ) ; Sara Dunn , Sean Trani (Somer) fourteen great grandchildren and one great great grandson A sister-in-law Millie (Ray) Smith of Az, sister-in-law Marion Van Schaffel, and many nieces and nephews. She was pre deceased by her husband Michael in 1978, a son Martin James in 2002 and by brothers Wilbur, James, Carl and sister Hilda. A Memorial Gathering for family and friends will take place Saturday March 11, 2017 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Farrell’s Funeral Service, Inc at 84 South St., Auburn, NY. At the convenience of the family, interment will take place in Newark Cemetery, Newark, NY. A scholarship has been established at Delaware County Community College in her name for nursing students. Memorials may be sent to D.C.C.C. Educational Foundation Gilberta M. Trani, Ed.D. Scholarship Fund, 901 South Media Line Rd, Media, PA 19063-0194.