Erna Gale Arnold Westwig

Erna Gale Arnold Westwig of Ithaca, NY died July 17, 2025 at the age of 87. She is survived by her children Karen W Sommers (Bob) of Boston, MA and Erik A Westwig (Karen Trible) of Ithaca, NY and six grandchildren: John Westwig, Olivia Sommers, Mark Westwig, Bobby Sommers, Anna Westwig, and Kendall Sommers. She also leaves behind many dear friends and former students. Her beloved husband of 65 years, Ralph, died January 25, 2025.

Born in Washington, DC on November 23, 1937 to James Arnold and Dorothea Barnes, Erna spent most of her childhood in Princeton, NJ. She graduated in 1959 from Sweetbriar College where she studied psychology and education. Throughout her life, she cherished the close bonds she forged with her college friends.

After marrying, she and Ralph spent some time in Princeton and Ithaca, NY where she taught elementary school. They finally settled in Corning, NY where Erna co-founded the Teenage Parents Program (TAPP), a part of the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Later in her career, she became a high school guidance counselor at Addison High School, where she delighted in helping students plan their future lives. After retirement, she worked part-time as a college counselor at Corning Community College.

Even decades after her retirement, it was common for her to receive cards, emails, and even personal visits from former students who simply wanted to reach out to thank her for the profound influence she had had on their lives. Not only did she deeply appreciate these gestures, she was always quick to remember important details about each of these individuals. She had an encyclopedic memory for dates, places, names, and events.

Erna and Ralph spent their later retirement years in Ithaca, NY at Horizon Villages. It cannot be overstated how much she loved her neighbors and activities there. She was an enthusiastic patron of the Lansing Community Library and a member of the Horizon’s book club. A voracious reader, she often consumed a novel each day as she curled up on her couch. She was also a passionate contract bridge player.

Erna’s favorite pastime, however, was travel. It wasn’t just the destinations she loved, however. She enjoyed the logistics and planning of each adventure nearly as much as the voyages themselves. She and Ralph explored the world both by land and by sea, visiting every continent of the globe. The trips she inevitably loved the most, however, were those where she had one or more of her grandchildren in tow, be it to visit a college campus, discover a new place, or just relax on a beach.

With her confidence, quick wit, and expressive way of talking, Erna exemplified how to live a full and rich life. She will be missed dearly.

A private memorial for family will be occurring later this year. If you’d like to honor Erna’s memory, we ask that you consider a donation to the Lansing Community Library, 27 Auburn Road, Lansing, NY or alternatively to your own public library.