PAINES HOLLOW- Fern Louise Ward, age 98, and formerly of East Herkimer, passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, January 10, 2010 at the home of her daughter with whom she had lived with for the past three years. She was born on August 15, 191l, in East Syracuse the daughter of the late Burtonand Laura Zinsmeister Jones. She was raised an educated in East Syracuse graduating from East Syracuse HS. She furthered her education graduating from Cortland Normal School, where she earned a teaching degree. On October 11, 1935, she was united in marriage with Kenneth A. Ward and moved to Herkimer. They shared a loving and devoted union of 66 years until his passing on February 26, 2002. For over 29 years she taught in elementary schools in Ilion, West Canada and retired in 1968 from East Herkimer School. Fern lived a devoted Christian life and was a member of the Little Falls Baptist Church. She enjoyed being with people and teaching the word of God. For many years she volunteered at the Mohawk Homestead reading bible lessons to the residents. She was a also a member of the Herkimer Christian Womens Club and Evening Star Valley Chapter #82 OES. She had a compassion for animals and tenderly considered Danny and Daisy her best canine friends. There was a gentleness in her voice that made you feel at ease from the moment you met her. A soft spoken women, she will always be remembered as a caring and helpful person. She will be greatly missed. Surviving are one son, Jay Paul Ward of East Herkimer, a daughter, Karen Lynn Francisco of Paines Hollow, eleven grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren, two nieces, and special friends, Karen Llewellyn, Sharon Palmer, and Harriet Neff. Besides her parents and husband Kenneth, she was preceded in death by a brother Paul Jones. Funeral service will be held on Thursday at 10:00 a.mm in Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer. Interment and committal service will take place in Oak Hill Cemetery later this spring. The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Wednesday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the Herkimer County Humane Society. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Member of the Evening Star Valley Chapter #82 Order of the Eastern Star are asked to meet at 6:30 p.m. in the funeral home for ritualistic services.