Mildred Stiles Silliman, 84, of Sidney, passed away Friday, April 6, 2007, at the NYS Veterans' Home in Oxford. She was born January 29, 1923, daughter of the late Millard and Cora Ina (Bisbee) Austin in South New Berlin. Mildred graduated from South New Berlin Central School and attended Cornell University, Class of 1944. Mildred married Elbert Stiles in Maryland in 1944; he predeceased her in 1958. She later married Thorne Silliman in 1962; he predeceased her in 1977. During WWII, she worked for the Bendix Corp. in Sidney to support the war efforts and was a Stanley Home Products representative for over 40 years. Mildred was also employed as the cook at Camp Brace and Sidney Head Start for several years. She volunteered in the pediatric ward at The Hospital in Sidney and was a longtime active member of the Sidney American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. Due to her declining health, she entered the NYS Veterans' Home in Oxford and continued her involvement by serving as two-time President of the Residents' Council, member of the dietary committee, the Red Hat Society, helped start the Vets' Home newsletter, the Echo, and she spearheaded a fundraiser after 9/11 to send funds to the Red Cross that was featured on local television stations and in the newspapers. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, William and Denise Stiles, Sr., Lexington, Ky.; daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Laurence Kelly, Surprise, Ariz.; daughter-in-law, Haydee Stiles Vitacolonna, Pebble Beach, Calif.; grandchildren, James A. and Patricia Stiles, Folsom, Calif., William and Laura Stiles, Jr., Deposit, N.Y., Brian and Samantha Kelly, Montgomery, Ala., Alicia (Stiles) and Christopher Westerman, Lexington, Ky., Nichole (Stiles) and Matthew Merkt, Ashburn, Va., Alison Kelly, Dedham, Mass., James E. T. Stiles, Winchester, Ky.; eight great-grandchildren, two nieces, a stepson, and stepdaughter. She was also predeceased by son, James Stiles; brother, Harlow Austin; sisters, Esther Brooks and Helen Austin.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, May 12, 2007, at 11 a.m. at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main Street, Sidney, with Rev. Allen Lang of the United Church of Oxford officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the NYS Veterans' Home Residents' Fund, 4211 State Highway 220, Oxford, N.Y. 13830; or to the American Heart Association.

Published in Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin from May 10 to May 11, 2007