East Aurora Advertiser

Obituary: Elizabeth Ann Wechter, Grandmother, Mother, Sister, East Auroran

Elizabeth Ann Wechter

Feb. 16, 1937-Jan. 18, 2023

Elizabeth Ann (neé Doran) Wechter of East Aurora died peacefully of natural causes on Wednesday, January 18. She was 85.

Known as Ann, Mrs. Wechter was born to Elsie Romaine Jones Doran and grew up in East Aurora on Chestnut Hill Road with siblings Tom, John, Catherine and Peter.

Gifted in the arts and writing, Mrs. Wechter pursued liberal arts, graduating from Green Mountain College in Vermont and Buffalo State College.

She was married for 25 years to Donald W Wechter, who died in 2016. She later partnered with Captain John H Keller of Montauk. for 20 years. He predeceased her in 2003.

Born and raised in East Aurora, Mrs. Wechter raised her family on Glenridge Road in East Aurora. During her years in East Aurora, she spent time on numerous activities including Junior  League, Carborundum Museum guide, Aurora Players make-up, and working at Siegel legal practice and fine clothes retail stores. She dabbled in dance as a child and skiing as an adult and was an avid Buffalo Sabres season ticket holder during the French Connection years.

After her time in East Aurora, Mrs. Wechter was part of the sport and commercial fishing community along the Eastern seaboard with her partner Captain Keller. They spent summers in Montauk fishing for tuna and winters fishing out of Key West, Florida. After the death of Captain Keller, Mrs. Wechter returned to Western New York in 2005, settling next to brother John and niece Ashley. She spent the next 18 years making new friends, playing bridge and traveling throughout Europe on visits to family.

Even at her advanced age, Mrs. Wechter kept the lively personality she had throughout the years. She stayed engaged with the world and managed new challenges all along the way. When asked to look back on her time, she said she had a full and interesting life, and looked forward to spending more time with her mother and other loved ones again.

Mrs. Wechter is survived by her sons Jeffrey ( Teri) Wechter of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Steven (Heidrun) of Geneva, Switzerland, and  David (Heather) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; grandchildren Adam, Daniel, Hannah, Jenn, Nick, Noah; siblings Catherine (Chic) of Geneva, New York and Peter (Cynthia) of Kure Beach, North Carolina; and many nieces and nephews including Ashley (Scott) of Orchard Park, Rachael of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Mallory (Hayden) of Kure Beach, North Carolina.

There is no planned service at this time. Emails to share condolences can be sent to jeferey@gmail.com, StevenWechter@gmail.com, or davidwechter@comcast.net.

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