Mabel Lauer Trotta of Port Jervis, N.Y., Wednesday, May 26, 2021. She was 95.
She was born on Nov. 15, 1925. She was the daughter of Henry Lauer and Josephine Stanton Travis and the step-daughter of Floyd Travis.
Mabel was the loving and devoted wife of Michael Trotta for more than 67 wonderful years until his passing in 2012.
Mabel graduated from Milford High School in 1943 and went on to work at Rome Army Airfield, which was the setting of the Kardex Installation. She then transferred to the Newark Army Base. After the war, Mabel was the office manager for Kaplan Lipman until its closing. She opened and operated the Colonial Dress shop from 1962-1973. After closing her shop, she worked at First Federal Savings and Loan until her retirement in 2002.
Mabel was fiercely patriotic and dedicated much of her life to community service. She was extremely proud of both her Milford, Pa., roots and the life she built with her husband, Mike, in Port Jervis. She was a founding member of the Port Jervis Business and Professional Women’s Club and was twice named “The Woman of the Year.”
She was a lover of all animals, and a loyal and dedicated friend. She was an amazing aunt who never missed a family function or forgot a special occasion. She will be missed by her many friends and relatives near and far.
Mabel is survived by her loving sister, Virginia Lauer Ridgely, and her husband, Louis, of Bath, Maine; and her nieces Susan Ridgely Gray and her husband, Randy, of Richmond, Maine, and Virginia Ridgely Burgus and her husband, William, of Great Falls, Montana. She is also survived by her Trotta nieces and nephews: Pat and Nell Trotta, Sis Leeper, Anne Sacco, Gerry and Mary Sacco, Joseph and Barbara Trotta, James and Linda Trotta, Jan Stevenson and Patrick O’Malley, Claudia and Jack Barry, and Chip and Maura Wilson. Mabel leaves behind several more great-nieces and -nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. She is further survived by her cousins Melanie Stitik, Matthew Gatzke, and Steven Gatzke.
Mabel had the privilege of having many close and adoring friends throughout her life, including Fred and Sandy Hammond. In addition to her parents and husband, Mabel was pre-deceased by her sisters and brothers-in-law, Patsy and Velma Trotta, Dominick and Carmella Trotta, Kay and Red Sacco, Antoinette and Cy Wilson; and her nieces Merrie Ridgely Chaisson and Tisha Petito.
Visitation was held May 28 at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Port Jervis. Funeral services followed at the funeral home with the Rev. Nancy Vonderhorst officiating. Interment followed at Milford Cemetery, Milford, Pa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Port Jervis Business and Professional Women’s Club’s Stars of Tomorrow Scholarship Fund, as that was something Mabel was extremely passionate about and worked on for many years of her life. Send donations to Port Jervis BPW PO Box 720 Port Jervis, NY 12771.