Claudia Jean Haberkorn, WINTER PARK Fla.

Claudia Jean Bentley Haberkom, 65, of Killarney Drive died Sept. 27. 2000, of ovarian cancer.

Born April 3, 1935, in Shinglehouse, Pa., she was the daughter of William and Dorothy E. (Jeans Bentley. On June 17, 1995, she married Theodore F. Haberkorn, who survives.

She graduated from Shinglehouse High SchooI in 1953 and attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., before transferring to the State University of New York at Buffalo. Alter earning her degree in education, she began teaching in 1961 at Catskill, N.Y., and then for a year at Belmont, N.Y., before moving to Olean, N.Y. In 1964, she began teaching sociology and nutrition at Allegany Central School. She retired in 1985 due to a back injury.

During her undergraduate work in Illinois, Claudia Jean did Volunteer social work with unwed mothers' homes in Chicago. ln Buffalo, N.Y., she did similar work through various settlement houses with abused and neglected children. She also counseled teen-age female gang members for the Police Athletic League. During summer vacations in the 1970s, she worked with abused children in Buffalo, NY creating an enrichment program. She also worked for the spouse abuse organization in Buffalo.

After moving to Winter Park in 1994, she volunteered at the Orlando Courthouse in counseling and issued injunctions on behalf of victims of spousal abuse.

During her teaching years at Allegany Central School Claudia Jean became affectionately known as "Miss B"

The letters, phone calls, e-mails, gifts of homemade food, flowers and memorabilia from former students were a great comfort during her last few years of life, as was her dog, Teddy a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He was her constant companion during her long battle with cancer.

In addition to her husband, Claudia Jean is survived by three stepsons, David Karl Haberkorn of Fort Wayne, Ind., Philip Edward Haberkorn of Auburn, Ind., Theodore Haberkorn of Orlando, FL

A forth stepson Michael Ross Haberkorn of St. Joe, Ind., preceded her in death.

A memorial service was held Friday Oct. 20, 2000 at 7; 30 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church in Olean, NY. with the Rev. Scott Larson officiating.

Interment at the Allegany Cemetery was held Saturday Oct. 21, 2000 at 3 P.M.

Memorials may be made to the Olean Public Library
 
 

THE TIMES HERALD

Olean, NY 

Oct. 1, 2000