Obituary of Maxine Nolan Gonnella

Maxine Nolan Gonnella (Da-wa-De-qwah), age 74, of Valley Vista Apts., Syracuse New York died Monday, December 15, 2003 at University Hospital, Syracuse. Maxine was born October 22, 1929 on the Onondaga Nation, the daughter of Leo and Louise (Gibson) Nolan. She attended the Onondaga Nation School and Onondaga Valley High School. She was a citizen of the Onondaga Nation, Snipe Clan, an educator with the Syracuse City School District for 10 years and was instrumental in developing and implementing Native Children's Education and was a founder of Title IV which is a Native American Education Program with the Syracuse City School District. She also worked for 14 years at Dynatax. She was on the Board of Directors of the Native American Service Agency and was a coordinator of the Elders Program. She was was preceded in death by her husband Henry L. Gonnella Sr. in 1993 and a son-in-law, Harold Thomas in 2002. Mrs. Gonnella is survived by four daughters: Tonya (Herb) Gonnella Frichner of Union City, New Jersey, Nannette M. (Carol Barnett) Gonnella of New York City, New York, Jacquelyn N. (Thomas) Gonnella of Easton, Maryland and Kimberly B. Gonnella-Tobian of Syracuse, New York; four sons: Henry L. Gonnella Jr., Michael A. Gonnella, Thomas J. Gonnella and Christopher J. Gonnella all of Syracuse, New York; a sister: Betty (Sam) Babcock of LaFayette, New York; three brothers: Bernard (Shirley) Nolan of Liverpool, New York, John (Marlene) Nolan of LaFayette, New York and James Nolan of Niagara Falls, New York; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Services: Wednesday, December 17, 2003, 10:00 a.m. at Ballweg & Lunsford Funeral Home and 11:00 a.m. in the Onondaga Nation Longhouse. Burial: Onondaga Nation Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday, December 16, 2003, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home, 4612 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, New York. Contributions: Native American Service Agency, 713 W. Fayette Street, Syracuse, New York, 13204.