Jewel Vayo

Ilion - Jewel Vayo, wife, mother, grandmother & great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2024. She is reunited with her parents, her husband and her beloved grandson, Jack. We can only wish them a very, very happy reunion.

Jewel was born on March 1, 1929 to Carl and Edythe (Ballda) Dreizler at their home in Frankfort, NY. She was the valedictorian of the Frankfort High School Class of 1947. She then attended Cornell University until returning home to marry the love of her life, William “Bud” Vayo, on August 1, 1953. They lived their lives in Ilion raising a family of four children and shared a very wonderful and happy marriage of 42 years until his passing in 1995.

Loved by so many, she was known by so many names; Jewel, Jess, Rusty, Mom, Grammie, Gram, GiGi, Aunt Rusty and Mom Vayo. She was an avid reader and spent countless hours knitting in her living room. There are few people around who did not know Jewel and even fewer who do not have at least one hooded baby sweater that she hand knit for them. She loved the mountains, especially the Adirondacks, and cherished the many canoe trips she and Bud took together there. Nothing made her happier than being surrounded by family whether it was birthdays, holidays, weddings or just a random afternoon. She would not sit down until she was sure that everyone was happy and settled. Except for on Sundays during football season. That’s when you could not pry her from the comfort of her armchair while cheering on her beloved Buffalo Bills. And oh, the day she met Jim Kelly. She prayed to God not to let her forget that day and He kept that promise until almost the very end. When it came time for family or friends to leave her home, you would find her in the doorway, waving you goodbye until the car disappeared down the street.

Through the years, Jewel worked at many local businesses and shops including H.G. Munger, Remington Rand, The Childrens’ Shop, The Smart Shop, Warner’s Men Shop and the office of Dr. L.R. Henry.

Jewel is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Peggy & Jim Marosek and Pattie & Tim Day, her sons and their wives, Bob & Tracy Vayo and Terry & Ruth Vayo. She also leaves her beloved grandchildren Joe (Elena) Marosek, Jim (Kayleigh) Marosek, Cady (Amanda Grimaldi) Marosek, Anna Marosek, Abby (Rocco) Elefante, Connor (Abbie Hannigan) Day, Timmy (Lea Puznowski) Day, Beth (Kathryn Johnson) Vayo, Ben (Gabrielle Moore) Vayo, Zach (David) Vayo, Luke (Nicole) ChoVayo, Charlotte Vayo & Chloe Vayo; her great-grandchildren, Aliki & Ermis Marosek, Emma, William and Margaret Marosek, Everett & Thatcher Bouthillier and Jewel Elefante. Jewel also leaves her dear neighbors, Donna & Michael Schofield and many wonderful nieces and nephews, especially her nephew Eddie Brucker who was another son to her.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Bud, her brother, Bob Dreizler, and sister-in-law, Ann, her sister and best friend, Joyce Brucker, and her beloved grandson, Jack Day.

Arrangements are entrusted to Vinny Iocovozzi of Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home in Ilion. Jewel has asked that her body be donated to Upstate Medical Center. Calling hours will be held on Friday, November 8, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home, 100 Otsego St. Ilion, NY 13357.

Please consider donations in Jewel’s name to MGH Melanoma Translational Research Fund or Melanoma Research Foundation. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Or consider honoring Jewel with a simple act of kindness.

MGH Melanoma Translational Research Fund
Trustees of the Massachusetts General Hospital
(Melanoma Translational Research Fund in the memo line)

Attn: Megan Daniels MGH Development Office
125 Nashua Street Suite 540
Boston, MA 02114-1101


Melanoma Research Foundation
1420 K Street, NW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

To leave condolences for Jewel’s family, please visit www.whiter-hendrix.com