Inez J. Hedemann (Saggese) of Niagara Falls, NY, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 10, 2017. She was born in Warsaw, NY, on July 1, 1929, the daughter of the late Joseph and Lucia [Panzica] Saggese.
Mrs. Hedemann graduated from the Warsaw High School, D’Youville College (’50) and received her Masters degree in Social Work at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. Following her graduation, she joined Catholic Charities, which brought her to Niagara Falls in the early 1960’s. She became Director of Social Services at Mt. St. Mary’s Hospital in 1974 and she served the community in this role for 20 years, retiring in 1994. .
In retirement Mrs. Hedemann remained active in the community, serving on the Board of Directors of several groups, including HANCI and the United Way. Mrs. Hedemann also served on the Parish board at the former St. Teresa’s Church, where she was also an Eucharistic Minister and a member of the St. Vincent dePaul Society. Mrs. Hedemann was honored for her devotion to the community with the D’Youville Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997, and the Heart of HANCI award in 2003.
She was the wife of the late Morgan Hedemann, who died in November of 2011.
Mrs. Hedemann is survived by two sons, Morgan B. (Suzanne) Hedemann and Joseph L. Hedemann, one daughter Anya M. (Christopher) Kovscek, three grandchildren Morgan J. Hedemann, Briana and Grace Kovscek, also many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Benjamin (late Marion) and Ignatius Saggese, Anne Marie (late William) Ericson, Rita (late William) Dauria and Lucy (late Rocco) Latronica.
Her family will be present on Monday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the RHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 901 Cayuga Street, LEWISTON, NY. Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday at 10:00 AM at St. Raphael Roman Catholic Parish, 3840 Macklem Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY, with Rev. Ivan Skenderovic officiating.
Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made the Catholic Charities and he Parkinson’s Foundation.
Interment in Riverdale Cemetery, Lewiston, NY.
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