Dorothy H. Friends

Dorothy Hammond Kesterke Friends 89, of Millerton, PA, born January 20, 1926 to Radford and Nina Hammond in Elmira, NY passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 30, 2015. Dorothy was an extraordinary woman. As a depression-era child, she began her lifelong work of care giving for her family at an early age.She raised a wonderful family of 6 children while working many years at the Bendix Corporation. She also helped manage the family’s dairy farm and worked as a nursing assistant at both Arnot Ogden and St. Joseph’s hospitals while pursuing a nursing degree at Corning CC. Dorothy loved her vacations, which often involved trips to Florida, and fishing trips to Canada with family and friends.She was a Past Matron of the Order of Eastern Star and a member of the Millerton United Methodist Church. Dorothy spent her last years living at Bethany Manor in Horseheads.The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude for the family and friends she found there and for all of the genuine loving care she received. Dorothy is predeceased by loving husband, Harry Friends; sister, Mary Jane Dunn; and brothers, Jack Hammond and Paul Hammond. She is survived by sister, Barbara (Wes) Cowan of Horseheads; son, Richard (Ada) Kesterke, Jr.; daughters, Suzanne (Donald) Peters, Leah (Chris Miller) Friends, Candice (Patrick) Foley, Sherri (Charles) Foster, Terri (Robert) Kramer; daughter in law, Jean Kesterke; lifelong friend and fishing buddy, William Carleton; 13 grandchildren, Richard Kesterke III, Joseph Ruggiero, Lisa Bates, Mathew Kramer, Luke Kramer, Jillian Kramer, Charles Foster, Sarah Foster, Hannah Foster, Ryan Foley, Tate Foley, Lauren Friends, and Ethan Friends; and 11 great grandchildren. Services will be held at Olthof Funeral Home, Inc. 1050 Pennsylvania Ave., Elmira/Southport on Sunday, January 3 with viewing to be 10 AM to 12 PM (noon) and a celebration of Dorothy's life will be held immediately after at 12 PM. Pastor Jennifer Wolf will officiate. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Dorothy’s memory to The Millerton United Methodist Women, 5443 Route 328, Millerton, PA 16936 or Resident Support Fund Bethany Manor, 3005 Watkins Road, Horseheads, NY 14845. Dorothy's guestbook may be signed at www.olthof.com.