Aranka (Cookie) Lawyer

Richmondville- Aranka (Cookie) V. Lawyer, 84, of Robert Street died Friday, November 15, 2019 at home surrounded by her family.  She was born on June 4, 1935 in New York City, the daughter of Frank and Aranka (Kubinyi) Vincze.  In 1947, her family moved from New York City to Laurens, NY, where they lived on and operated a dairy farm.  She graduated from Laurens Central School and went on to attend SUNY Oneonta, obtaining both her Bachelor’s and Masters degrees in Education.

Cookie retired after 31 years of teaching English at the former Richmondville Central School where she was revered by students and staff members alike.  Gathering with family and friends was her passion.  Annual events on the family farm including Cousin’s Campout during the summer and the Bobs’ Lodge Camp Clambake on Labor Day weekend were among her favorites.  Travel to destinations in Florida, Maine, Alaska, California, Arizona, Canada, and Hungary brought joy to Cookie, her husband Bob, family, and friends.  She was a member of Alpha Psi Sorority, an international society for key women educators, and the Schoharie County Retired Teachers Association.

Along with her parents, she was predeceased by her son, Jeffrey Lawyer and sister, Clara Layman.

Cherishing her memories are her husband, Robert R. Lawyer, whom she married March 28, 1959; son, Robert (Lisa) Lawyer, Jr. of Lake Placid, daughter-in-law, Lyn Lawyer of Cobleskill; sister, Annie (Paul) Constantine of Dansville, NY; two brothers-in-law, Douglas Layman of Laurens, NY and William Lawyer of Oneonta; four grandchildren,  Robert Lawyer, III of Tupper Lake, NY, Amber Lawyer of Syracuse, NY, Haley and Kyle Lawyer of Cobleskill; and several cousins and their families.

Family and friends are invited to a period of visitation to be held from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Friday, November 22, 2019 at Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home 171 Elm St., Cobleskill.  A funeral service will be held at 10:00am, Saturday, November 23, 2019, at the United Methodist Church in Richmondville, NY.  Burial will be at Richmondville Rural Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Cookie’s memory may be made to the Aranka V. Lawyer Scholarship Fund, a fund established to continue her legacy in education and to benefit local students attending Cobleskill-Richmondville School District.  Contributions may be made at or mailed to any branch of the Bank of Richmondville.  Richmondville address:  PO Box 130, 284 Main Street, Richmondville, NY, 12149.