Elfriede Glebinski

Elfriede Emma Hanna (Pannier) Glebinski, of Middleburgh, New York, passed away peacefully with family at the age of 92 on Monday, February 19, 2024.

Elfriede was born on March 19, 1931 to Gustav and Frieda Pannier in Bremerhaven, Germany.  As she often said, she married the love of her life, Guenter Glebinski, on December 3, 1949.  The newly married couple spent their honeymoon riding through Germany on a motorcycle and a handful of years later immigrated to the United States with their two small children, Ralf and Ingrid.

Elfriede came to America as a young woman with little more than her intelligence, incredible work ethic and fierce determination to make a beautiful life for her family. As a new immigrant, she taught herself English in the evenings when her children were asleep by reading the newspaper with her English/German dictionary. One of her proudest memories was of completing the work and passing the test that made her an official citizen of the United States.

Elfriede had a love of books that spanned her entire life and though her formal school education ended in the 8th grade, her family knows she was frequently the most well-read person in the room.

Throughout her life, Elfriede was a lady of exceptional integrity and class.  She cared wholeheartedly for her family, friends and neighbors and took every opportunity to lend a helping hand.  She was known as the finest of cooks who delighted in preparing incredible meals and creating special holiday traditions.  She was also a gifted seamstress and tailor who helped support her young family by taking on sewing and alteration projects in the evenings early in her life.  She often said it was impossible to sit down without a project in her hands and she created many beautiful embroidered, knit and crochet items that are prized family heirlooms today.

Elfriede was predeceased by her husband: Guenter, and her two brothers: Norbert and Paul Pannier.  She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law: Ralf and Debbie Glebinski; her daughter and son-in-law: Ingrid and Dennis Diakunczak; her daughter Doris Waxberg and partner Larry O’Connor; her eight grandchildren: Erik Glebinski, Timothy Glebinski and wife AnneMarie Glebinski,  Katie Santiago and husband Justin Santiago, John Diakunczak, Taylor Diakunczak, Nikki Diakunczak and spouse Taya Misheva, Amanda Waxberg, Jason Waxberg, and her two great-grandchildren: Callan Santiago and Theodore Glebinski. 

Elfriede’s stories from growing up as a very young girl in a war-torn nation, her journey as an immigrant to the United States, and the many obstacles and triumphs beyond are nothing short of incredible.  She is the rock upon which her family was built and we are filled with love and admiration for our smart, courageous, warm and loving mother, Oma and Uhr-Oma. She will be missed dearly.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00PM on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at Coltrain Funeral Home, LLC, 134 River Street, Middleburgh.  All are invited to visit with her family, from 1:00-2:00PM at the funeral home, prior to the service.  Spring inurnment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery.

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