Sally Patchin Lynch, 86, passed away on Monday (June 29, 2026) at Absolut Care of Three Rivers in Painted Post following a lengthy illness.
Sally was born on December 31, 1939 in Wayland to the late Herbert William and Ethal Bell (Shepard) Henry. She was a 1956 graduate of Wayland Central School. On October 13, 1956, she married Francis Joseph Gilbert, who predeceased her on March 14, 1978. Together they had three children. On March 17, 1979, she married John F. Lynch, who predeceased her on January 17, 2022.
Sally began her career doing bookkeeping at Birdseye in the 1950’s, then later as a secretary at Corning Glass Works. She worked at Bonady’s in Painted Post and several other grocery stores as a cashier. She owned and operated the Pine Tree Motel & Gift Shop in Andover from 1983 to 2003. In her retirement years she was a cooperative member of Liberty Hollow in Greece until 2021, where she bought and sold antiques that she found during her second passion: rummage sales.
Sally truly enjoyed the running of her Pine Tree Motel gift shop and the Liberty Hollow Cooperative because even as a small child, she dreamed of owning her own store. She loved making embroidery crafts to sell at her stores. Sally kept her hands busy with her flower garden where she grew her famous Hens & Chickens. In her off time, she loved to play scrabble almost as much as she loved ice cream. In her later years she took up coloring and produced hundreds of coloring sheets.
Sally is survived by three children, Kim (LaVonne) Gilbert of Elmira, Karen (Larry Hesselbarth) Reed of Painted Post and Kevin (Linda) Gilbert of Clermont, FL; two step-sons, Chris (Mary Jo) Lynch of Avon, and Brian (Sue) Lynch of Verman, CT; eight grandchildren, Megan (Chris) Hojnoski, Tabatha (Ken Haight) Reed, Felicia (Luke) Thomas, Mark Gilbert, Michael Gilbert, Justin (Danielle) Lynch, Amber (Ed) Duryee, and Jessica Miller; two granddaughters-in-law, Amy Gilbert and Missy Miller; nine great grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to being twice widowed, she was predeceased by two sisters, Beulah I. Luce and Helen Marie Pfaff; and two grandsons, James Gilbert and TJ Miller.
There will be no prior visitation. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, July 10, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Corning. Burial was in Erwin Fairview Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Corning, NY.
Arrangements are under the direction of Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Andover. Online condolences may be offered at www.baker-swan.com. © 2025 Baker-Swan Funeral Home.
