Geraldine Dobbs, 95, of Manchester, dies; funeral Mass set for Nov. 16

Geraldine “Gerry” Dobbs, a Manchester resident who helped operate her family’s business and served as a Hopewell town assessor, died Nov. 7 at Clifton Springs Nursing Home. She was 95.

Her obituary, published Nov. 12 by the Finger Lakes Times, lists calling hours from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 15 at Halsted-Patrick Funeral Home, 19 N. Main St. in Manchester. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 16 at St. Dominic Church, 97 W. Main St. in Shortsville, with burial afterward at St. Agnes Cemetery in Clifton Springs.

Born July 19, 1931, she was the youngest daughter of Albert and Nettie Pardington. She spent her childhood in Clifton Springs, attending a one-room schoolhouse that was later moved to Mid-Lakes School. After finishing high school at 16, she took a secretarial job at the Commercial Building in Newark.

She and George Dobbs married in 1951. They raised three daughters while living on Route 21, where he operated a service station, before moving to Freshour Road in Hopewell in 1961.

Alongside raising their children and supporting their participation in 4-H, she helped develop the family’s sand, gravel and peat moss operation. When George died in 1970, she took over management of the business. She subsequently worked at the veterans hospital in Canandaigua.

In 1974, she married dairy farmer Cyril “Cy” Antheunis. Their marriage lasted 42 years. After his death in 2016, she left the Freshour Road home and moved to Manchester.

Her community involvement included work as a Hopewell assessor and service on a Chapman Cemetery Association committee. She also belonged for many years to the Centerfield Homemakers.

Her family remembered meals she hosted for relatives and friends, her pies and the summers her grandsons spent visiting the farm. In later years, she enjoyed outings, dinners and music with a close friend, including watching Lawrence Welk on Saturday evenings.

Survivors include daughters Deborah Langdon and Jo Agosto; grandsons Donald Langdon and Joshua Langdon; three great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. In addition to her husbands and parents, she was predeceased by daughter Linda Dobbs and siblings Maurice, Mabel, Gladys, Mary, Albert, Leon and Vern.

The family expressed appreciation to caregivers at Clifton Springs Nursing Home and Victor Views Assisted Living, as well as Dr. Chester Nakamura and Father Anthony Amato of Saint Peter’s Parish.

Memorial contributions may be sent instead of flowers to the House of John, 14 Spring St., Clifton Springs, NY 14432, or the American Lung Association, P.O. Box 70360, Philadelphia, PA 19176-0360.

Staff Report

FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.