Gail Orso

Biography

Gail Ann Orso passed away peacefully on Friday the 15th of January at her home in Houston, Texas. Her husband Fran, sons Braden (Kelsey French) and Bryan, mother Joan Wilder (Joseph), and sister Penny Lester surrounded her. She battled cancer with unbelievable courage, grace, and an unrelenting spirit that inspired all who admired Gail and came to know her. She was born in Corning, NY, on the 8th of March 1956.

Gail is survived by brothers David Seeley, Edward Seeley, and Daniel Wilder all of Melbourne, Florida. She is also survived by her sister Donna Hamilton (Steve) of Apopka, Florida.

A graduate of Corning East High School, Gail was a long time educator in the Elmira and Corning Area School Districts. She began her career teaching Math after graduating from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. As a teacher at Horseheads High School, she earned a Masters Degree in Educational Administration and was awarded Teacher of the Year. Later, she served the students of Schuyler, Chemung, and Tioga as the Principal of the BOCES campus in Horseheads, NY. Before retiring in 1999 due to her illness she also served as an administrator at Northside Blodgett Middle School in Corning, NY.

After retiring, Gail donated her time to the American Red Cross, The Town of Erwin Planning Board and the GIST Cancer Research Fund.

Friends are cordially invited to attend a memorial celebration of her life in Corning, NY.

Thursday, the 4th of February, calling hours will be held at the Phillips Funeral Home (17 West Pulteney Street) from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The following day, Friday, a Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary's Church (155 State Street) at 10:00 am followed by a Memorial Celebration Event at the Radisson Hotel (125 Denison Parkway East) on Friday evening from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, Gail has requested that Memorial donations be made to:
GIST Cancer Research Fund.
55 Saw Mill Road
New City, NY 10956
www.gistinfo.org/donate/