Saratoga Springs, NY - Claudia F. Ashelman, 95, passed into eternal life on Friday August 26, 2016.

She was born in Leonia, New Jersey, later moving to Pennsylvania.  As a young girl she lived in Chicago.  She loved Chicago and while there worked for Fannie Mae candies, often enjoying samples.  She and her best friend Jean rode their bikes all over Chicago and they took piano lessons together.  In 1929, using paper keyboards, she and Jean practiced in class, and then one by one each child would go to the only piano in the room to play.  During this time she also became a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs.

When she graduated from high school she hoped to attend college.  Her father was not convinced that women should go to college, but her mother, advocated for her and so off she went.  She attended Mount Union College in Ohio and met the love of her life and future husband, Paul O. Ashelman who she married in January 1942, just before her last semester, so he could leave to serve in World War II.  She then graduated in 1942 with a Bachelor's degree in education.

Claudia's first baby was born the day after the D Day invasion and she often told of her conflicting emotions at the time, thrilled for her son and sad about friends who lost their lives in the invasion.

After the war was over she and Paul made their home in Warren, Ohio.  In 1946 they welcomed triplet girls and 8 and ½ years later another girl.

Claudia had a very busy life as a mother and wife; she was an excellent seamstress making most of her children's clothes and she made the best cookies.  She also returned to school to receive additional certification at Kent State for teaching K-12.  In 1961 the family moved to Penfield, NY where she was a substitute teacher.  In her later years she worked in the Guidance office of Fairport High School.  After she retired she moved to the Capital district to be closer to one of her daughters.  During this time she worked as a substitute teacher for the English as a Second Language department at Washington Irving High School and Steinmetz Middle School in Schenectady.  In 2005 she relocated to Saratoga Springs.

She loved gardening, chocolate and learning about the world.   Literature was important to her and she wrote poetry.  She studied the Bible and the Jewish and Christian faith, and was thrilled to visit Israel.  She was also a student of art and music and was an amazing piano player often able to play music by ear.  Many evenings she would play the piano as she and her husband Paul would sing together.   She volunteered in churches and schools in the communities she called home.

She is predeceased by her parents, Liley Ferguson and Carroll Ferguson, her husband Paul O. Ashelman, her brother C. Edgar Ferguson Jr., 2 grandchildren, Justin Morris and Joshua Morris, and a son-in law Richard H. Morris.

She is survived by her son, Jack Ashelman (Darby), and daughters Marilyn A. Hill (Richard), Dorothy J. Banwell, Louise C. Doering, and Claudina A. Owen.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Paul Banwell (Jennifer), Ann Marie Hill, Jeffrey Hill, Thomas Morris, Aline Doering and Melissa D. Worley.  Ronald Owen has remained a faithful friend, visiting her weekly in the nursing home.

In lieu of flowers she has asked that donations be made in her memory to Mount Union College Scholarship Fund or the Salvation Army in Saratoga Springs.

Relative and friends may call from 4 to 6pm Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs (584-5373) with a memorial service to immediately follow.  Graveside services will be at 2:30pm Thursday, Sept, 8 at White Haven Memorial Park, 210 Marsh Rd. Pittsford, NY, where she will rejoin her husband.

A very special thank you to the nurses and staff of the Saratoga Hospital Nursing Home.  You made a very difficult part of her life so much more comfortable and dignified and she thanked you with her smile.  We also wish to thank the nurses and staff of Wesley Health Care Center, Hathorn 2 for taking our mother in when the hospital nursing home closed, and for giving her love and comfort in her last few weeks on earth.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.