Mrs. Carmella M. Edwards, 88, of Conesus, NY, formerly of Deerfield, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 28, 2014. Carmella was born on Glen Cove, Long Island, NY on July 9, 1925 the daughter of Francis and Pura (Vegas) Gordon. She was raised on Long island, earned her RN degree from NY State, later her bachelor's degree from Utica College and master's degree from SUNY IT. During WW II, Carmella was a member of the Cadet Nurses Corps at Pilgrim State Hospital in Bay Shore, Long Island where she tirelessly cared for soldiers wounded during the war. On August 27, 1955, Carmella married John C. Edwards at St. Patrick's Church in Utica, a loving union of 59 years until John's death on April 1st of this year. Early in Carmella's career she was employed as an RN with Utica State Hospital, Memorial Hospital, St. Luke's Memorial Hospital and Broadacres Nursing Facility. Carmella had a passion for learning and enjoyed sharing that knowledge with others. She taught nursing courses at St. Elizabeth School of nursing, and later became a Spanish teacher at Rome Catholic School and for many years as a Spanish Professor at Mohawk Valley Community College. Carmella's willingness to help others was evident as a volunteer Spanish teacher and evaluator at Empire State College and later as a Spanish teacher with the New Hartford Senior Center. Carmella was a parishioner of St. Peter's Church in N. Utica, and enjoyed playing pinnacle with her husband and friends. Mrs. Edwards is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jean Linda and Arthur Friedburg of New Hartford; three sons and a daughter-in-law, John Robert Edwards of Madison, NY, Robert John and Erica Edwards of Conesus, NY and Ian Vogel of Rome as well as several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Mrs. Edwards' funeral will be held on Friday, June 6, 2014 at 9:15 a.m. at the Heintz Funeral Home, 408 Herkimer Rd., N. Utica and 10:00 at St. Peter's Church where her Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated. Rite of Committal and burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery, N. Utica. Calling hours for family and friends are Thursday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Those wishing to make a donation in Carmella's name, please consider the Salvation Army or your local Hospice Care organization.