Alma S. (Spelman) Treen, 84, NYS Cooperative Extension Volunteer

Alma S. (Spelman) Treen, a resident of Avery Crossing in Needham, MA for the last 6 years, passed away Friday, March 8, 2013 after a brief illness at the age of 84.

Born on Sept. 28, 1928 in Mineola, NY, she grew up by the ocean and loved it her whole life. A graduate of Syracuse University, she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. She majored in home economics, studying areas as diverse as food chemistry and interior design. Following her graduation from college, she worked for the New York State Cooperative Extension.

After marrying and settling in Syracuse, where she lived for more than 50 years, she devoted herself to her family. Alma also volunteered for NYS Cooperative Extension, Girl Scouts and literacy programs. She was a 50-year member of University United Methodist Church.

he was also a member of the Comstock Park Club for decades, where she enjoyed many lifelong friendships. Incredibly talented with needlework of every kind, she more recently enjoyed learning origami and donating her knitting talents to making blankets for newborns.

She was an avid reader and sports fan, and especially enjoyed following the Syracuse University basketball team. She showed kindness and love through her quiet warmth and actions and was a good listener. Her family was her life. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

She was the beloved wife of the late Robert B. Treen, to whom she was married for 55 years; mother of Susan Treen Nash and her husband Robert of Columbus, OH, Bruce E. Treen and his wife Kelly of Darien, CT and Jane Treen Brand and her husband Adam of Needham, MA; grandmother of Emily, Eric, Baylis, Alison, Matthew and Kara. She is also survived by her nephew, Rod D. Spelman of VA and her niece, Amy Spelman Davis of NC.

A funeral service will be held Friday, March 15 at 10 a.m. at the Congregational Church of Needham, 1154 Great Plain Ave. Relatives and friends kindly invited to attend. A burial will be held in Oakwood Cemetery, Syracuse, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. To share a memory, please visit www.eatonfuneralhomes.com.