- Date Of Birth: January 1, 1925
- Date Of Death: March 6, 1925
- State: Montana
Mabel Bertha Cook (Ossit) (Mckinney) 90, of Cortland and living in Montana passed away on March 6, 2015. Mabel was the oldest of four daughters born to Lois Campbell and Allen Cook of Syracuse. Mabel’s sisters include the late Arlene Cook, Neuman, Cloney (Robert) of Nedrow, Francis Cook Arnold (Robert) of N Syracuse, and the late Anna Cook , Cook (Bruce) of Manlius. Mabel was born in Syracuse New York on January 1, 1925. Just as she entered this world with a bang, so was the rest of her exciting and full life.
Mabel attended and graduated from Central High School in Syracuse. She met William Ossit and they were married on November 10, 1945. They had one daughter, Susan Ossit of Montana. Three granddaughters, Angel D’Addario of Kalispell, Montana, Gabrielle D’Addario (Kristopher) Zacuto of Playa del Rey, Califonia, and Sophia D’Addario of Cortland NY, and one Great granddaughter, Gracie Mabel Zacuto of California. She was the BEST Grandmother and Great Grandmother in the world.
While Bill was in the Navy at they lived in Brooklyn. Mabel told me that one years they were in New York they attended the Famous New Year’s Eve Celebration in Times Square. She said it was cold but wonderful. They moved to Cortland New York where they owned and operated Ossit’s Market on Tompkins Street. Bill’s talent as a meat cutter brought people from all over town to purchase their meat, along with other items offered at the Market. We lived over the store and the store . They owned and operated the Market for more than 20 years.
Bill & Mabel were advent bowlers, in leagues and open bowling. It’ was a family sport and all three of us were successful bowlers. Bill traveled once to compete in a famous bowling tournament called The Patterson Classics, it was held in Chicago, Illinois. A trip of a life time for him. They Bowled in both the Elks and Eagles Leagues individually, teams and mixed teams. Mabel and Bill were both active members of the Moose Club, and members of First Baptist Church in Cortland, where Mabel took an active role in the church. As business owners they played and active role in their community.
Mabel loved to swim, we always carried a suit and towel in the trunk of the car, just in case. She learned to Hulu and did it at parties. One time she was invited to a pool party and at the close of the party she did the hulu and finished by diving into the pool, it was very cool. She learned to bellie dance and loved all kinds of dancing.
While they owned the store Mabel won a Honda 50 motorcycle which she rode for years. Many, many people used the motorcycle to take their tests on, it was small and easy to handle. At one point she gave up the motorcycle to a nephew who was a celebrated motor cross rider, and on a break in of their property, sadly it was stolen.
On October 31, 1979 Mabel lost William to Leukemia and became a widow. Bill was only 53. She was young and on her own. They had sold the store by then, so she went to work in a elegant dress shop. Mabel was fashionable and always dressed in style and with style.
On April 14,1984 she became a Grandmother for the second time with the birth of Gabrielle Christine D’Addario.(Zacuto) For her it was fantastic, but Walter had never been around young children. Slowly he warmed up to them.
They bought a camper and headed off to see America.
Walter was a very good, loving and giving man. They learned to ballroom dance, delivered food for meals on wheels, and he was a smart business man. He read the Wall Street Journal every. He also was a talented craftsman, made beautiful furniture and picture frames. He had created a workshop in the basement and every tool had it’s place, which he traced and painted. It was always the spoof when they had people over, especially my cousins who would move the tools around, and after they would leave he returned them to their proper place. He also was a talented photographer, and built a dark room in the basement.
Then on February 14, 1986, Mabel became a grandmother for the third time with the birth of Sophia Halley D’Addario. Life was good, three granddaughters whom she loved dearly and they loved her with all their heart. Then sadly, on April 8, 1990 Mabel became a widow for the second time. Walter was gone and she was alone again. She continued on with her social clubs and friends, the senior center, and church. And of course swam EVERYDAY in her wonderful pool and before she swam she would always say “thank you Walter”. Mabel swam every day several times a day. Sometimes when the girls were staying overnight, they would all get up and go for a swim in the middle of the night. She loved it, and so did they.
In the summer of 2008 she moved to Montana to be closer to her daughter, and lived next door in a duplex right next door to Susan. Mabel remained in Montana, enjoying the Senior Center, neighbors and friends and enjoying the beautiful country only found in Montana. Mabel Passed away in my home where she had been living since July, on March 6, 2014. A very sad day for our family and anyone who ever met her. She was loved by everyone she met, and she thought the world , in general was a good place, and that included people too. She was beautiful and full of life, and was always up for what adventure was around the bend. We miss her everyday and with great sadnes say goodbye to the most wonderful woman, mother, grandmother, wife, and friend I ever knew. Rest in peace and I know she is watching over all of us.
