110 year old Andover native laid to rest at hillside cemetery

Madeline Burdick Turner

By Steve Walker 
ANDOVER - Hillside Cemetery, on North Main Street, overlooking the Village of Andover is the final resting place of many who have called Andover home. Early settlers Seth and Abigail Baker both died in 1822 are two of the earliest burials. Veterans of the American Revolution and every military conflict since are also resting on Hillside. 
Madeline Burdick Turner was born in Elm Valley, in the Town of Andover on December 17, 1907. She passed away on June 24, 2018. This remarkable super-centenarian, was formerly the oldest resident of Monroe County. She is now the oldest person buried at Hillside.

In fact Madeline was usually the oldest person in just about any situation she found herself in recent years. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle featured a story about Mrs. Turner as the oldest active voter in Monroe County in November 2015, when she was 107.  https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/local/columnists/andreatta/2015/11/03/andreatta-oldest-voter-madeline-turner/75057574/.

Madeline began her long life in Andover. She lived in Wellsville and Scio as a child. In 1926 she married Howard Turner in Alfred. During the depression both she and Howard found work in Rochester at Eastman Kodak. After retirement they spent twenty years in Florida.  Howard died in 1990 and was buried in his wife’s family plot in Andover. Madeline returned north to live with her daughter in Penfield, NY in her later years.  On Saturday she was laid to rest beside her husband and parents.

The Hillside Cemetery Association began 2018 stressed for finances, leadership and volunteers. This spring, as Memorial Day approached, a call went out for volunteers to help get the grass cut and fallen brush from the past winter’s storms. Forty local citizens showed up for this work bee as Hillside is a focal point for Andover’s annual Memorial Day observances. May 30 a large number of people attended the annual meeting of the Hillside Cemetery Association. Ten new members joined the Board of Directors.The new president of the cemetery association, Chris Mattison, is actually a relative of Mrs. Turner through the Burdick family. The other officers of the association are Tom Kent, vice-president. Karol Gavin Marciano, secretary and the treasurer is Mary Nevol. The association is meeting regularly to update policies, plan improvements in grounds care, signage and fiscal stability. Donations may be made to Hillside Cemetery Association, PO Box 313, Andover, NY 14806. For more information call 607-478-8567.