Ann (Alessi) Kotwas died peacefully in her sleep during the early morning of August 11th, 2012, at the Van Duyn Home in Syracuse, NY. She was born Aug 24, 1916 in New York City,the daughter of the late Giuseppi and Giovanna Cippola Alessi.  Her family moved to a farm on Rock City Rd, near Old Chatham, where she helped raise her brothers and sister. After high school she attended Albany Business School. In 1939 she married John F Kotwas. They lived on the farm for a while then moved to New Jersey. Some time in the 1940's they moved back to the Chatham area and bought a house in "Buckleyville" where she raised her family. She enjoyed her family, flower garden, crocheting and canning fruit. Ann is survived by her children, John F Kotwas Jr (Cathy) of North Chatham and Joanne Heagle of Canastota NY; brother, Peter Alessi (Minnie) of Branford, CT; Grandchildren, Kristen (Pat) Geloff and Alicia (Matt) Griffith; great grandchildren, Jacob, Benjamin and Nathan Geloff, Joshua, Nicholas and Justin Griffith all of Cicero, NY. She was pre deceased by her brothers: Salvatore, Paul and Joseph Alessi: sister, Gertrude Zollo and son in law, Peter Heagle. Family will receive friends on Thursday, August 16th at 9:30am at the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl funeral home in Chatham. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11am at St. James Church; interment will follow at St. James Cemetery, Ghent.         For directions or to send an online condolence, visit www.frenchblasl.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ann's memory may be made to a charity of your choice.