AUBURN - Eva A. Dehn, 88, of Auburn, well-known for her community service, died Saturday.
Dehn, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church, helped found the Hospice of the Finger Lakes, was a board member on numerous civic organizations, and also volunteered at Auburn Memorial Hospital.
Gilda Brower, city councilor, who knew Dehn for 25 years, described Dehn as humble. Dehn and Brower would go out once a month or so on dinner dates.
“She was always smiling,” Brower said. “Her whole family was like that.”
The day before she died, Brower visited her at Mercy Health and Rehabilitation Center, along with Florence Smith, the Unitarian minister's wife.
“Even when she was in the worst of crises, she just beamed and said she was honored to see us,” Brower said.
Eleanor Fallat knew Dehn from church, prior to working with her at the Office of Aging, where Dehn was a part-time bookkeeper.
“We were friends in the '70s and '80s before and after we worked together,” Fallat said. “I don't think she had ever been a bookkeeper before. It just reflected the way she approached life. She could always work things out. She was small in stature but huge in heart, an extraordinarily big person. While she was always generous with her time and money, she wouldn't be taken advantage of. She was a survivor.”
With Dehn as an example, Fallat said she learned a lot about standing up for herself. She said that even when Dehn grew old, she would drive to Cleveland to visit her family there.
“She was extraordinarily independent, and she loved her dogs,” Fallat said. “They were critical to her lifestyle.”
Brower remembered Dehn's Lhasa apso, Bailey, who also came to visit Dehn at Mercy Rehab.
“Bailey found a new home,” she said, now that Dehn has passed on.
Fallat said that the Office of the Aging was prominent in helping develop the hospice program, which was where Dehn became involved.
Terry Kline, director of the hospice, knew Dehn for 20 years.
“We're all very sad at here at the hospice,” Kline said. “She was a wonderful woman, so supportive of the hospice.”
Kline said Dehn was involved with hospice back in the '80s, long before the Hospice of the Finger Lakes was established.
Dehn had become a nurse in England after fleeing from Germany during World War II, which may have been the source of her interest.
“She liked to say, 'I gave birth to the hospice,'” Kline said.
More than 2,100 patients and their families have been helped at the local hospice chapter since 1988. It offers supportive services to terminally ill persons and their caretakers.
“We just kicked off our 20th anniversary celebration at the gazebo in Hoopes Park on Nov. 29. It was the 'Light Up a Life' ceremony,” Kline said. “She lit the tree every year, and in November she said, 'Twenty more!'”
Kline said it was sad that Dehn won't be around when the hospice holds its dinner dance at the Holiday Inn this fall.
“Eva was always right there.”
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext 238 or email kathleen.barran@lee.net
Gilda Brower, city councilor, who knew Dehn for 25 years, described Dehn as humble. Dehn and Brower would go out once a month or so on dinner dates.
“She was always smiling,” Brower said. “Her whole family was like that.”
The day before she died, Brower visited her at Mercy Health and Rehabilitation Center, along with Florence Smith, the Unitarian minister's wife.
“Even when she was in the worst of crises, she just beamed and said she was honored to see us,” Brower said.
Eleanor Fallat knew Dehn from church, prior to working with her at the Office of Aging, where Dehn was a part-time bookkeeper.
“We were friends in the '70s and '80s before and after we worked together,” Fallat said. “I don't think she had ever been a bookkeeper before. It just reflected the way she approached life. She could always work things out. She was small in stature but huge in heart, an extraordinarily big person. While she was always generous with her time and money, she wouldn't be taken advantage of. She was a survivor.”
With Dehn as an example, Fallat said she learned a lot about standing up for herself. She said that even when Dehn grew old, she would drive to Cleveland to visit her family there.
“She was extraordinarily independent, and she loved her dogs,” Fallat said. “They were critical to her lifestyle.”
Brower remembered Dehn's Lhasa apso, Bailey, who also came to visit Dehn at Mercy Rehab.
“Bailey found a new home,” she said, now that Dehn has passed on.
Fallat said that the Office of the Aging was prominent in helping develop the hospice program, which was where Dehn became involved.
Terry Kline, director of the hospice, knew Dehn for 20 years.
“We're all very sad at here at the hospice,” Kline said. “She was a wonderful woman, so supportive of the hospice.”
Kline said Dehn was involved with hospice back in the '80s, long before the Hospice of the Finger Lakes was established.
Dehn had become a nurse in England after fleeing from Germany during World War II, which may have been the source of her interest.
“She liked to say, 'I gave birth to the hospice,'” Kline said.
More than 2,100 patients and their families have been helped at the local hospice chapter since 1988. It offers supportive services to terminally ill persons and their caretakers.
“We just kicked off our 20th anniversary celebration at the gazebo in Hoopes Park on Nov. 29. It was the 'Light Up a Life' ceremony,” Kline said. “She lit the tree every year, and in November she said, 'Twenty more!'”
Kline said it was sad that Dehn won't be around when the hospice holds its dinner dance at the Holiday Inn this fall.
“Eva was always right there.”
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext 238 or email kathleen.barran@lee.net
