John L. Delurey

Hoosick – John L. Delurey, 84, died at Southern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT, on Friday, January 7, 2011.  John was a resident of Hoosick, NY, for almost 60 years.
Born on September 28, 1926, in Pittstown, NY, John was the son of Daniel and Elena (Boose) Delurey. He was the grandson of John and Nora (Cronin) Delurey and John and Katherine (Keegan) Boose. John attended local schools in the Pittstown area and then graduated from Catholic High in Troy, NY. After a short career as a salesman with the International Harvester Company, he joined with his brother Raymond to launch their own International Dealership in 1952. With the help of his wife, Gloria, he built Delurey Sales & Service from scratch into one of International’s most successful small dealerships in the country. He was known for his tremendous work ethic and for being a savvy businessman and salesperson. He was well regarded by his customers for the level of service he provided over the years. He received International’s highest honors and awards over the years before turning the business over to two of his sons, serving as their consultant and advisor.
John grew up on his family’s farm, and his love of farming never left him.  He returned to it later in life as he worked on his own farm for years in West Hoosick, NY, and it became his hobby and passion. He liked nothing more than creating projects, mostly for his children and grandchildren to do, and he loved to drive his Suzuki around to check on their progress. He enjoyed driving his big bucket loader around looking for rocks to excavate and fence posts to pound. He loved having a cold beer under a shade tree with his crew after a long hot day of haying, and his favorite Herefords came running whenever he was in the barnyard.
In addition to his business efforts, John was devoted to his children and his community. He hunted and travelled with his children and instilled in them a love of the outdoors. He also taught them the value of hard work – in business and elsewhere. He was a communicant of St. George’s Church in Pittstown in his youth and then of Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls, NY. He was a proud and active member of Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. 178, leading a number of its charitable efforts. He served as Exalted Ruler and later rose in the statewide organization to become District Deputy.
Survivors include his son Danny and his wife Robin of Winchester, MA, his son Jeff and his wife Teresa of Hoosick Falls, his daughter Kate Fishman and her husband Elliott of Glenmont, NY, and his son David and his wife Gail of West Hoosick. He leaves 13 grandchildren, John and Keegan Delurey, Jennifer and Christopher Shannon, Ryan, Courtney and Sarah Delurey, Callen, Mallory and Aubrey Fishman and Zachary, Aaron and Grace Delurey. He is pre-deceased by his wife Gloria, his brother Raymond and his sister Rita.
Funeral Services were Tuesday, January 11, at 10 am from the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls. A Mass of Christian burial was offered at 11 am at Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls.
Relatives and friends called at the funeral home on Monday, January 10, from 3 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hoosick Falls Health Center.