Hoosick Falls – Kathleen Marcia Sprague, 91, went home to be with the Lord and be reunited with her loved ones on Wednesday, January 8, 2014. Kathleen had resided at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at Hoosick Falls, her “Loving Home,” for almost the past four years.
She was the beloved only child born to Walter and Mary Eva (Emrich) Miller on April 7, 1922, in Dolgeville, NY. In Kathleen’s earlier years she and her parents moved to North Hoosick, NY, to be close to where her father was contracted as a carpenter to work on the Walter A. Wood High School in Hoosick Falls, NY. Sadly, Kathleen’s father passed away from pneumonia when she was only seven. She and her mom moved back to the Herkimer, NY, area. After Kathleen graduated in 1940 from Herkimer High School she earned a business degree from Excelsior School of Business in Utica, NY. She was employed as the Supervisor of the switchboard operators in Herkimer.
As the years went on, Kathleen would go back and forth to North Hoosick to visit a friend called Aunt Lizzie. When she was visiting, she met Douglas E. Sprague, at that time Superintendent of the Hoosick Falls Highway Department, at the White Creek pool, fell in love with him and eventually married him. Together, they had five children and lived on Willow Street in Hoosick Falls.
Kathleen was a wonderful homemaker and mother who loved her family dearly. Kathleen also loved her Catholic faith and would attend the Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls on a regular basis. She loved walking and doing crossword puzzles. When her children grew up, she moved back to Herkimer to take care of her mom and lived there for over thirty years until her hip broke in February of 2010, when Dr. Martinez was wonderful in helping to bring her back to Hoosick Falls.
Kathleen is pre-deceased, sadly in their early years of life, by her husband, Douglas E. Sprague Sr., who died in 1973, and three devoted sons Walter, 1970, Douglas E. Jr., 1998, and Mark, 2007. Her greatest hope through the loss of her family members was through the song “Peace in the Valley” some day. Her greatest inspiration to go on was her love for the Lord and devotion and love she received from her family. She also shared a wonderful love for many friends, who let her know she was being thought of every holiday and birthday. Kathleen’s spirit, loving gratitude and smile will live on forever.
Kathleen is survived by her two daughters, Elaine and husband Vern Weeden of Pittstown, NY, and Christine and husband Tom Carrow of Mechanicsville, VA, her eight grandchildren, Kevin, Paula, Vicky, Becky, Heather, Sonia, Nick and Doug, and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Saturday, January 11, at 11:30 am from the Immaculate Conception Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial followed the Mass at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Hoosick Falls.
Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home in Hoosick Falls, NY, on Saturday morning. Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation through the funeral home.