Mary Etta (Buddenhagen) Hornicek

Mary Etta Buddenhagen Hornicek was born on April 23, 1935, to Herbert and Kathleen Buddenhagen in Callicoon, NY. She was the oldest of 5 children; two sisters, Kathleen Moran, and Virginia Guglielmone and two brothers, Ross Buddenhagen and Daniel Buddenhagen. They lived in the hamlet of Hortonville. She attended the Delaware Valley Central School and was the first graduating class at the new high school on State Route 97 in 1952.

Following graduation, Mary Etta attended Oneonta State and was a member of Arethusa Sorority. She graduated in 1956 with a degree in elementary education. She began her teaching career at Roscoe Central School for one year and then finished her 40-year career at Delaware Valley Central School teaching 5th and 6th grade social studies. Over her career, Mary Etta was a 25-year member of Delta Kappa Gamma as well as a member of the Sullivan County Teachers’ Association. She also was an active member and an elder of the Hortonville Presbyterian Church.

Mary Etta met and married the love of her life, Charles ‘Bud’ Hornicek, on November 17, 1956. They were married for over 64 years. Bud and Mary Etta had four children – Timothy (Debbie), Michael (Donna), Mary, and Peter (Alicia). They had 10 grandchildren – Corey, Kelsey, Kendall, Kyle, Kasey, Kathryn, Eric, Miles, Machk and Madeline, as well as one great grandchild, Chloe. She also had several nieces and nephews. Mary Etta was predeceased by her parents, her brother Ross, her husband Bud, her son Michael, and her first-born grandson, Corey.

She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren and was godmother to several of her nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by those who loved her.

A big thank you to Danielle Rutledge for going above and beyond in helping and caring for Mary Etta these last few years. Also a special thank you to Diana Duffy and the Upper Delaware Ambulance Corp when we were in need of their assistance.

Funeral services were entrusted to the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home. A service will be held at the Hortonville Presbyterian Church on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. It will be followed by a private graveside service at the Hortonville Cemetery. A celebration of Mary Etta’s life will follow at the Hortonville Fire Department. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hortonville Presbyterian Church and the Upper Delaware Ambulance Corp.

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