Herkimer, N.Y. -

Mrs. Jeanne A. (Griffin) Kotary, 89, of 115 Hillside Ave., Herkimer, passed away on Saturday, December 5, 2009, at the Masonic Home, Utica.
She was born on March 28, 1920, in Herkimer, the daughter of the late Clinton B. and Mary A. (Crough) Griffin. Jeanne attended Herkimer High School and furthered her education at the Packard Business School in New York City. She had resided all of her life in Herkimer.
She was united in marriage to Charles A. Kotary, Sr., on October 4, 1941, in Herkimer. The couple shared in a blessed union of over 55 years of marriage together until the passing of Mr. Kotary on November 16, 1996. Jeanne was last employed as a senior clerk with the Herkimer County Board of Elections. She was a communicant of St. Francis de Sales Church and member of its Rosary Society and was the first President of the Democratic Women’s Organization of Herkimer County. She had, at one time, served as an inspector and committee-woman for the Village of Herkimer, District #7. Jeanne worked with the Herkimer County Board of Elections as a Democratic Clerk for several years.
Survivors include her beloved family: her children, Karen O’Bryan along with her husband, Stephen, of Damarascotta, Maine, Patrick J. Kotary along with his wife, Veronica, of Hampton Bays, Long Island, and Jeanne Slopnick along with her husband, John, of Mohawk; 11 grandchildren, Heather Brown and husband, Kevin, Bridget Widmaier and husband, Kurt, Kyle O’Bryan and wife, Erin, Rachel Pedone and husband, Jason, Jessica McNamara and husband, James, Michael Kotary and wife, Kate, Jeffrey Kotary and wife, Barb, Adam Kotary, Jyl Slopnick and fiancé, Rajeev Chillakuru, Judith Slopnick and John Slopnick; 10 great-grandchildren, Stephen Hanna, Brynne Hanna, Nicole Poland, Kurt Widmaier, Connor Widmaier, Kirsten Widmaier, Jacob Kotary, Karlee Kotary, Sara Kotary and Maura Kotary; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins and her dear friend, Rosemary Brown, of Mohawk. She was preceded in death by five sisters, her twin sister Jane Griffin, Susan Kelly, Doris Neal, Rachel Griffin and Frances Thomas; three brothers, Frederick F. Griffin, Dr. Paul Griffin and James Griffin; and by her son, Charles A. Kotary, Jr.
In respecting Jeanne’s wishes, cremation will take place. There are no public calling hours. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Memorial Mass which will commence on Monday, December 14,  2009, at 11 a.m. from St. Francis de Sales Church, N. Bellinger St., Herkimer, with the Rev. Mark Cunningham, Pastor, officiating. Inurnment will take place alongside her husband in Calvary Cemetery, Herkimer, following the church service.
It is the wish of the family that contributions in memory of Jeanne be considered to St. Francis de Sales Church. Envelopes will be available at the church service.
Cremation and funeral arrangements are by Enea Family Funeral Home, 220 N. Washington St., Herkimer, Harry Enea, Director.
Jeanne’s family extends a thank you to Dr. Butala and his staff and to the staff of Masonic Home for their years of personal care and respect. Jeanne would also like to thank Reina's and Rosalie's for accentuating her impeccable style.
To offer an online note of sympathy to the family, go to www.eneafamily.com on the Internet.