Norbert L. Stegemann

Delmar – Norbert Lee Stegemann, 59, of Devon Road, Delmar, NY, died peacefully late Wednesday evening, June 9, 2010, at his home after a brief struggle with liver cancer. Norbert was surrounded by the artwork he loved, the Labradors he cherished and was in the company of his longtime partner Christopher Cooper and good friend Linda Sweener.
Born January 10, 1951, in Queens, NY, he was the son of the late Joseph J. and Elfriede Pinapfel Stegemann. Being raised in Floral Park until 1960, his family relocated to East Northport, NY, and he graduated from Commack High School in 1969. Norbert attended SUNY at Farmingdale and graduated in 1971 with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science (Mortuary Science). He served in the United States Army from 1971 to 1972 and remained in the US Army Reserves until 1975.
Norbert’s career in funeral service started when he purchased the former Hack Funeral Home in Schaghticoke, NY, in 1972 renaming it Stegemann & Hack Funeral Home. After residing in Valley Falls, NY, for many years, Norbert purchased the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home in Stephentown, NY, and the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home of Petersburgh, NY, in 1982. He later purchased the former Robson-Decker Funeral Home in Hoosick Falls, NY, renaming it Robson-Stegemann Funeral Home. In 1994 he sold the three funeral homes and resided in Slingerlands, NY, and Delmar. Even though he had retired, Norbert kept his funeral license current and was still very active in helping the many families he had serviced and who had become his friends.
In 1996 Mr. Stegemann purchased the Surfside Inn, a 100 room hotel on Cape Cod Bay in Provincetown, MA. The hotel was sold in 2000. He enjoyed raising seeing-eye dogs and Labrador retrievers. A former communicant of Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls, Sacred Heart Church in Berlin, NY, and St. Joseph’s Church in Stephentown, Norbert served as parish council President in all three churches. He served on many cemetery boards along with memberships in the Hoosick Falls Kiwanis and the Unity Masonic Lodge #9 F&AM in New Lebanon, NY.
Survivors include his longtime companion Christopher Cooper and five Labrador retrievers with whom he resided, his brothers with associated  family members, Ralph, Peter and Keith. He is pre-deceased by a brother, Dennis L. A special person to Norbert was his nephew, Alexander K. Stegemann.
Norbert was an eclectic man with interests reaching far and wide. This is totally reflected in the diversity of people he was blessed to call friends. His desire to learn, not always listen, was the drive for him to visit many overseas destinations – Australia, Africa, Egypt, Kenya, many European countries including Austria (his Mother’s birthplace), Russia, Asia, Bangkok, Hong Kong and to travel extensively in the USA.
The decision to keep Norbert at home and not go to a facility was simple. The ability to do so was entirely different.
A Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial was con-celebrated on Monday, June 14, at 10 am in St. Joseph’s Church, Route 43 and Grange Hall Road, Stephentown.
Relatives and friends were invited to visitation on Sunday, June 13, from 4 to 7 pm at the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 NY 43, Stephentown.
Norbert requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Guiding Eye for the Blind or the Norbert Lee Stegemann Scholarship at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 9, Stephentown, NY, 12168.