Henrietta Trapp

Henrietta (Henri) Kultchar Trapp, age 99, of Saranac Lake, NY, “checked out” on Tuesday, January 24th at her home at Will Rogers.

Henri was born on January 2, 1924 in Galesburg, IL, the daughter of Eugene Frank Kultchar and Marjorie Mason Kultchar.

Henri's mother passed away when she was 10, and she went to live with her “Aunt” Jula (a cousin) in Evanston, IL. Henri also spent time during the depression in Goshen, CT, on Four Winds Farm, owned by her Aunt Teddy and Uncle Chris. She attended a one room schoolhouse, and rode her favorite cow, Brownie. After graduating high school, Henri spent a year in California picking grapes for the war effort. She then moved to Fayetteville, NY, where she lived with her eldest sister, Mary. She worked during the day and attended Syracuse University at night.

Later, when living at the YWCA and working at the Post Standard, she met George Trapp on a blind date. They were married in 1950. Soon after, they bought Kempwyk, an 18th century farmstead in Cleveland, NY, on the North Shore of Oneida Lake, where they raised two children, Susan and Jeffrey. The family enjoyed their woods, sailing on the St. Lawrence, and vacationing in Lake Placid, NY. Henri became a driving instructor, George was an engineer with GE, both in Syracuse. Jeff tragically died in a work accident, just before the birth of his son, Jason. Susan had a son, Mason, and a daughter, Mackenzie. Henri and George loved spending as much time as they could with their grandchildren.

In 2002 following the death of George, Henri recreated her life, moving to a townhouse in Lake Placid. She volunteered at the hospital, delivered Meals on Wheels, walked dogs at the Humane Society, and attended the Unitarian Church in Saranac Lake. She supported Native American causes. She was an avid bridge player and knitter, knitting countless lap blankets for charity. And Henri loved animals.

She liked to feed apples to the deer. Her favorite saying was “I don't know how to use a computer, but

I can milk a cow.”

In her later years Henri moved to Will Rogers where she was a beloved member of the community

and greeted everyone with “Hello Love.”

Henrietta is survived by her daughter Susan Trapp of North Stonington, CT; nephews and nieces Bill (Sally) Stout of Bloomington, MN, Dick (Ann) Stout of Boy River, MN, Geri Stout of Rice Lake, WI, and Patty Frick of Green Valley, AZ; 3 grandchildren: Jason (Nikki) Misner of Holley, NY, Mason Charter of Brooklyn, NY, and Mackenzie Charter of Guelph, Ontario; and 2 great-grandchildren: Shaelyn Misner and Aiden Misner. She was also predeceased by her sisters, Mary Stout, and Dr. Elizabeth Kultchar, and her nephew, David Stout.

At the request of the family, funeral arrangements will be private. In lieu of flowers, Henri requested that milkweed be planted to attract Monarch butterflies. Donations can be made to the Tri-Lakes Humane Society, P.O. Box 1111, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, in Henrietta's memory.