Emmy DeFinis

Emmy was born in Gstaad, Switzerland to Jakob and Emma Brand Gyger, October 13, 1929. Having wanderlust, she ventured alone at the age of 18 in 1948 on the Queen Elizabeth to the United States with a sponsorship. She stayed three years, returned to Switzerland for a few months and returned to the U.S. with her parents. Though she intended to see the world, she met the love of her life and started a family, making her home in Edison, NJ. She became a U.S. citizen in 1961. She and Horace moved to Sullivan County in 1984 to be close to their grandchildren.

Emmy worked in vending, then in the family seafood business, and retired after assisting at The Fern Manor. She was a long-time member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 73 of Monticello. Her hobbies were gardening, canning, cooking, and photography and enjoyed family in the pool.

She is survived by three daughters, Ann (Glenn) Halloran, Arleen DeFinis and Linda DeFinis; three grandchildren Matthew (Lacie) Halloran, Sara (John) Diehl, and Danielle (Steven) Krantz; and seven great grandchildren Jakob, Gracyn and Lukas Halloran, Emma and Nathan Diehl, Addilynn and Oliver Krantz, all of Sullivan County. Also, her dear cousin Vreni Nedierer, nephews Peter (Heidi) Gyger, Anton (Heidi) Gyger, and niece Liliane (Robert) Holzer-Gyger all of Switzerland and Walter (Maya) Gyger in California

She is predeceased by her husband Horace DeFinis, her parents Emma & Jakob Gyger, her brother Wilhelm Gyger.
Friends may call on Wednesday January 10,2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home Jeffersonville, NY . Funeral services will be at 1:00 PM at the funeral home Virginia Bossley will officiate. Interment will follow at Jeffersonville Lutheran Cemetery Jeffersonville, NY.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan County 800 Stony Brook court Newburgh, NY 12550. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrsuted to Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home Jeffersonville, NY 845-482-4280. To send condolences or for directions please visit stewartmurphyfh.com 

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