Gail Marie Wells

January 13, 1956 - February 15, 2014

COOPERSTOWN - Gail Marie Wells, a much-loved daughter, mother and sister, passed away peacefully Saturday evening, February 15, 2014, at Otsego Manor, surrounded by her family. She was 58.

Born January 13, 1956, in Englewood, New Jersey, she was a daughter of Richard and Dorothy Marie (Romaine) Roediger.

At an early age, Gail and her family moved from Hackensack, New Jersey to Warwick, New York. In the early 1970s they moved to the Town of Exeter, and in 1974 she graduated from Mt. Markham Central School in West Winfield. She then married and raised a family in Laurens, and in the 1980s she moved to Bainbridge.

Gail could strike up a conversation with anyone, made friends easily and would do anything for them. She enjoyed being outdoors, camping, swimming, boating and loved riding her motorcycles. She prided herself on canning home-grown vegetables and serving healthy food to her family.

She worked for many years as a waitress, including at Ruffino's in Oneonta, the Starbuck Diner in Deposit, the Afton Café, and Rosa's in Bainbridge.

In 1996 she completed coursework at Chenango Memorial Hospital and became a Certified Nursing Assistant. Until 2005 she worked as a CNA for the United Methodist Homes, where she provided skilled care and comfort to many residents.

Gail is survived by her parents, Dorothy and Richard Roediger of Spring Hill, Florida; a devoted sister, Diane Wells, and her partner, Rob Fiorentino, of Springfield Center; two sons, Nathan and his wife, Viki Wells, of Endicott and Brian and his wife, Mandie Wells, of Sidney; two daughters, Sarah Wells and partner, Jared Carlton, and Denise Malyana, both of Daytona Beach, Florida; and seven grandchildren, Kazmira Marie Wells, Brian Wells, Jr., Amir Malyana, Sami Malyana, Kaylei Brown, Rena Gail Carlton, and Dennis Carlton. She is also survived by a nephew and niece, David Wells, Jr., and partner Amy Wells, of West Winfield, and Amber and her husband, Jaret Lange, of West Sand Lake, and their children, Mia and Sierra; and many other special nieces and nephews from her extended family.

Family and friends may call at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, from 1-3 pm. on Sunday, March 2, 2014.

A Celebration of Gail's life will be held at Templeton Hall, 63 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, from 3:15-5:15 p.m., on Sunday, March 2, 2014.

Donations in Gail's memory can be made to The Alzheimer's Family Support Program, 35 Hackett Boulevard,  MC65, Albany, NY  12208.

A special thank you to Dr. Gregory Cummings at Bassett Medical Center, Dr. Dzintra Celmins at the Neurosciences Institute, Department of Neurology at Albany Medical Center, and to Beth Smith-Boivin at The NENY Alzheimer's Association.

In a final act of helping others, Gail and her family made arrangements for her brain donation to the Alzheimer's Center at Albany Medical Center.

A heartfelt thank you to the staff at Serenity Place at Otsego Manor for their skillful and loving care, and to the staff at Catskill Area Hospice.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown. 


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.