Obituary of William Paul DeLaney

Age 68, formerly of Elmira, passed away in St. Louis MO on Friday, August 9, 2024.  Paul was born and raised in Elmira, one of 10 children, to the late Thomas B. and Sara (McCarthy) DeLaney.  Paul is survived by his loving wife Micki Masters DeLaney; daughter Elyse DeLaney Burditt and husband Sam of St Louis MO; sons Emmett P. DeLaney with Audrey Stein of Watertown MA and Kienan D. DeLaney of Kansas City MO; siblings with spouses, John M and Elizabeth DeLaney of Syracuse NY, Thomas C. DeLaney of Elmira NY,  M. Eileen and John Clarke of Glenmont NY, Sally and Paul Goldberg of Delmar NY, Ann Deacon of East Syracuse NY, James DeLaney of Elmira NY, D. Justin and Joan DeLaney of Elmira NY, Margaret and Peter Radez of Horseheads, Joseph P. and Cindy DeLaney of Rio Grande NJ; mother-in-law Carolyn Winters of Warren IN; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Michelle Sexton of VanBuren IN, Pamela and John Vadas of Hammond IN, Kimberle and Steve English Louisville KY; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.  In addition to his parents, Paul was predeceased by his son Brandon Masters.

Paul was a 1974 graduate of Southside High School.  He went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree from SUNY New Pautz and his Masters of Business Administration from Suffolk University in Boston.  Paul had a 41-year career working for various companies in the glass industry beginning with the Thatcher Glass in Elmira and retiring from the Ardagh Group in 2014.  While working for Foster Forbes, Paul met fellow Foster Forbes employee, Micki Masters, over the telephone.  They would go on to marry and be married for 33 years.  Paul was a kind and gentle soul who never knew a stranger.  He was always willing to lend an ear and would happily chat in person or over the phone, which he always answered, for hours on end.  Paul was a devout Catholic.  He was a music fan who loved to listen and sing along.  Paul was a lifelong golfer and a baseball fan who supported his St. Louis Cardinals.  He also enjoyed watching the Mizzou Tigers where his three children graduated.  An avid reader, Paul loved novels by John Grisham and David Baldacci and various presidential biographies.  Most importantly, he loved his family dearly and relished every opportunity to get together.  Part of his loving family was his faithful dog Jude.  “To know Paul is to love Paul.”

Family and friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, 502 West Water Street, Elmira NY, on Friday, August 16, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  A prayer service will be held there on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 9:45 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 224 Franklin St. Elmira NY. A livestream of the Mass will be available through the Facebook page for Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, https://www.facebook.com/ElmiraCatholic. Those wishing may remember Paul with a donation to the American Heart Association P.O. Box 840692 Dallas TX 75284-0692, Catholic Charities of Chemung County 215 E. Church St. Suite 100, Elmira, NY 14901 or the Food Pantry of the Southern Tier, 388 Upper Oakwood Ave Elmira Heights, NY 14903.