Obituary of Tammy Marie Oefelein

Tammy Marie Oefelein, 58, of Bainbridge, along with her canine companion Mali, tragically passed away as the result of an automobile accident on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Tammy was born on October 1, 1963 in Staten Island, daughter of William and Dolores (Orinski) Oefelein. Tammy will be eternally missed by her daughter, Kali Conover; her brothers, Tim, Tom and Ted and their families; her "penguin" Jeffry Conover, Donna and Bill Whalon, who she referred to as her second parents, and so many friends near and far that she regarded as family. Tammy was predeceased by her son, Gregory Clay Conover on Sunday, July 1, 2007. She graduated from Bainbridge-Guilford Central School in June of 1981. Tammy owned and operated O-So-Fine Painting & Design out of her home in Bainbridge, specializing in interior and exterior painting. Owning a small business is challenging; the fears and occasional bouts of uncertainty that would lead others to give up on their dreams, never altered her path to success and complete self-reliance. She managed the family-owned business, Frontier Floor Refinishing, for many years. Tammy used the knowledge and skills obtained, to create a business of her own that she loved, bringing her great pride. She worked very hard for many years to develop a phenomenal reputation for herself. Tammy used her independence and "can-do" attitude to really learn and understand the art of painting. She created her own path and you'd be damned if you tried to stand in her way. She often said she enjoyed "painting the world brighter". Tammy would completely transform a living space, and it brought her great joy to see the smiles on her customer's faces when a job was finished. Tammy's life consisted of much more than painting; yet even in her spare-time she enjoyed painting on canvas. She was an animal lover; being especially fond of her chickens and her dog Mali, who went everywhere with her. She and Mali had an inseparable bond. She enjoyed kayaking, horseback riding, driving the golf cart to the cabin, snowmobiling, cruising back roads with Mali, hanging out at the pool with friends, puttering around the house doing projects, caring for her plants, cooking, or a simple walk in the woods while being close to nature. Tammy was a free-spirit. She was a lover of life. She learned to appreciate the small things through the hardships she faced; one of which being the loss of her son. She did not let the day-to-day struggles deter her commitment to happiness. She would often decide to fly or drive to another state at a moment's notice, without any indication. She made the most of every second she had on this earth. Tammy was a social butterfly. She had a way of making anyone feel comfortable and at home in her presence. Her enthusiasm and never-ending energy would liven the mood of any room she walked into. She brought smiles and joy to all the lives she touched. She would do anything for anyone; and she did. Tammy was the person that we all relied on; she was always one phone call away, and would drop anything to help a friend out. We can all take this lesson from my mother, Tammy, to seek the enjoyment of the ones and things we love. A celebration of Tammy's life will be held on October 1st, 2022 at the General Clinton Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her memory may be directed to the Delaware Valley Humane Society. Donations made will be used towards adoption fees and other necessities. Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.