Neila Hayes

Neila Carroll Hayes went to be with the Lord on August 6, 2015. Neila was born on Dec. 28, 1935, in Sidney Center, the youngest child of Bernise E. and Alene Boice Hodges. She attended grade school in Sidney Center and graduated from Sidney High School in 1953. Neila married Ralph Martin Hayes in Sidney Center Methodist Church on May 24, 1958. They have three children.

Neila was a member of the Sidney Center Methodist Church for over 40 years and Circle Drive Alliance Church in Sidney for many years before moving to Norwich, worshiping at Agape Baptist Church and more recently Temple Baptist Church. In the early years, she worked at The Hospital, Sidney and A.O. Fox Hospital, Oneonta. In June 1954, Neila traveled to Great Britain and Europe with Pastor Bill Lyon on the Christian Youth Caravan where she made life long friends overseas. The Hayes’ lived in Sidney Center until 1989, moving to Sidney, then later to Norwich. Neila was a correspondent for the Walton Reporter and Tri Town News during the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. She was an active volunteer with the Sidney Historical Assn., Pink Door/Chenango Memorial Hospital Auxiliary (Norwich), and charter member of the Maywood Historical Group (Sidney Center).

Survivors are husband Ralph, daughter Lori and husband David Hess of Norwich, son Jim and wife Diane Hayes of New Berlin and son Paul Hayes and partner Dean Carlson of Key West, Florida. Also seven grandchildren: Steven (Amy) Hayes, Andrew Hayes, Brittany Hayes, Jorge (Kayla) Roberts, CJ Hayes, Christina Hayes, Nia Borden and one great grandchild Aubrey Roberts. Also sister Almetta Van Valkenburg of Burnt Hills, NY, several nieces, nephews and their children & grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 15 that 11 a.m. at Wilson Funeral Home, 68 S. Broad St, Norwich NY, with calling hours at the funeral home from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2015. The family will host an informal get together in the Community Room at Peacock Manor, 13 Brown Street, Norwich, NY 13815 immediately following the celebration on Saturday.

Her remains were cremated and will be interred in Highland Cemetery, Sidney Center at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St, Norwich, NY 13185, or Maywood Historical Group of Sidney Center, 66 Maywood Lane, Sidney Center, NY 13839.