Ute M. Gonia, 72, died at her home in Gouverneur, New York. Born in Grevesmuhlen, East Germany, she and her family later moved to West Germany, where she completed business school. She met her husband Charles “Chuck” Gonio while he served in the U.S. Army, and they married in Lockport, New York, in 1971 before settling in Gouverneur.

Gonia worked for many years as a bookkeeper for local businesses including Rotundo Auto Sales and Dave Hampton Chrysler, and retired after nearly 25 years at Riverside Iron Works. A few years before her death she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her family handled final arrangements privately and no public funeral services were held at her request. There was no publicly reported police investigation and no information about arrests or suspects.