The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Obituaries

Susan Ellis

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Hoosick – Susan M. “Sue” Ellis, 60, passed away suddenly April 2, 2015 at her residence on Second Street. She was the daughter of the late William P. and Alice (Hyland) Ellis.

Susan was born on June 18, 1954, in Troy, New York. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy, class of 1972. She continued her education at CCBI in Syracuse, New York. After college, she lived and worked most of her adult life in Albany, NY, being employed at Albany Medical Center in the medical records department, then as a legal secretary for several law firms.

She moved back to Hoosick Falls in 2002 and worked as receptionist at the Eddy in Troy, NY for a few years until her health started to fail. Recently, she worked part time as a caregiver / companion for several individuals in the area.

Survivors include her brother, William P. “Bill” (Ilona) Ellis Jr., of Zephrhills, Fl and sister Corrine (James) Eldred of Hoosick Falls, along with several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were Tuesday April 7, at 12 noon from the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial  followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Hoosick Falls. Relatives and friends called at the funeral home from 11 am until the start of the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either HACA of Hoosick Falls or the animal shelter of your choice through the funeral home.

Joseph Shupe

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Berlin- Joseph Paul Shupe, 49, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 29, 2015 at the Community Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany.  Born in Ramapo, NY on January 3, 1966, he is the son of Marilyn Healy Shupe of Middletown, NY and the late John Morgan Shupe.

Joe was raised in Nanuet and was a 1984 graduate of Nanuet High School. He attended Rockland Co. Community College where he played baseball and graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science.

He was employed for over 26 years by the New York State Dept. of Labor starting as an auditor in Orange and Dutchess counties. After moving upstate in 1995, Joe continued to rise with the Dept. of Labor and currently was serving as the Regional Director of Unemployment Insurance Employer Services in Albany.

Joe was active in Boy Scout Troop 222 in Petersburgh serving as Scoutmaster, as well as being a member of the Order of the Arrow.  He coached baseball in the Shatford Little League in New Lebanon and was a member of the Berlin Parade Committee.  He was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Berlin, where he was instrumental in keeping the church active and making the 100th celebration a success. He was a member of the Parish Council.  He was a true NY Yankee baseball fan, and enjoyed golf and skiing.  Joe was an avid photographer who loved camping and traveling cross-country with his family.

shupeweb He is the beloved husband of Monica Moore Shupe who he married on September 12, 1993 in Nanuet, devoted father of Timothy M. Shupe, Christina L. Shupe, Jordan R. Shupe and the late Megan Ann Shupe, brother of Barbara (Rocco) Zappille of Pennsylvania, John (Jeannette) Shupe of Rock Tavern, James (Linda) Shupe of Nanuet, William Shupe of Wurtsboro and the late Curtis Shupe (wife Terri survives of Middletown), son-in-law of Larry (Brooke) Moore of New Windsor and Jean (Alan) Ward of Rhinebeck, brother-in-law of Randy (Linda) Moore of Rhinebeck.  He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

His funeral mass was held Wednesday, April 8 at 11 am at the Sacred Heart Church, 27 Main Street, Berlin, NY.  Relatives and friends called at the Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday from 4 to7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions would be appreciated to the Shupe Children’s Fund, c/o Pioneer Savings Bank, 78 Main Avenue, Wynantskill, NY  12198.

Arrangements are by the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home in Stephentown.  Condolence book at ParkerBrosMemorial.com.

Burt Swersey

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Stephentown – Burt Swersey, who made life better – and more inspiring – for students at RPI for more than two decades, died unexpectedly March 9 at age 78 near his home in Stephentown, N.Y. True to his ethos, he passed away while delivering soup to a homebound neighbor.

“Don’t do nonsense!” Those words resounded, again and again, in the ears of students in Burt Swersey’s Inventor’s Studio course. Swersey was known to repeat himself, if that’s what it took to redirect the young linear thinkers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute into becoming engineers of change.

“Make change happen that will have significant benefits for a billion people,” he implored last year while accepting the Sustainable Practice Impact Award from the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance. “What did you do in your life? Well, I made life better for a billion people!”

Swersey was a native of New York City who grew up in the shadow of Yankee Stadium. He attended Bronx High School of Science and then Cornell University. It was during his senior year in Ithaca that he met the love of his life, Alice. They were married in 1959.

Swersey was an innovative, unconventional thinker with a drive to do good in the world long before joining a college faculty. After serving in the Army and then working at Polaroid and Sylvania, he founded four medical technology companies, securing 15 patents along the way. In 1978, he and his wife bought a farm in Stephentown and founded Shadowbrook Nursery, selling premium azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangea and other plants for more than 20 years. The Swerseys, who moved from Westchester County to Stephentown full-time in 1988, were original members of  The Chatham Synagogue Netivot Torah.

Though he loved working on his farm, it was a chance encounter with a customer, a teacher at RPI, that dramatically changed his life. Swersey mentioned his engineering and entrepreneurial experience and was invited to give a guest lecture, which led to teaching full-time.

For the next 23 years he encouraged, mentored and called on his students to dig deep inside themselves and develop world-changing ideas. He established a new curriculum centered around innovation and creativity and a number of his students went on to start successful companies.

In addition to his wife of 55 years, Swersey is survived by his son, William, and two daughters, Sarah and Rachel, his brother, Arthur, and six grandchildren. He was interred at Chatham Rural Cemetery.

David H. Silvernail

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David H. Silvernail, 84, of Vancouver, WA, died peacefully on Thursday March 26, 2015.

He is survived by his daughter Faith Anne Listebarger and her husband Kevin of Vancouver, WA; two sisters, Jane McCumber and her husband Daniel of Petersburgh, NY, and Anne Stubbs of Coeur d’Alene, ID.

Interment will be at a later date in the Garfield Cemetary, Stephentown, NY.

Alfred N. Odierno

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New Lebanon – Alfred N. Odierno, 100, died Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at home at Melbourne Place in Pittsfield, MA.  Born in Little Italy in New York City on June 10, 1914, he was the son of the late Silvio and Mary Yander Odierno.  His family moved to Rockaway, NJ where he graduated from Rockaway High School.  He later graduated in 1934 from the Casey Jones School of Aviation.   [Read more…] about Alfred N. Odierno

Memorial Service – James F. Conway

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Hoosick Falls – James F. Conway, 91, a resident of West Hoosick, passed away in his home Friday, January 23, 2015 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He is survived by his wife Anneliese B. Conway, his daughter Charlann M, Fuller, two grandchildren, Matthew J. Fuller and Marie E. A. Fuller and numerous nieces and nephews.

Before moving to Hoosick Falls from Putnam County he was active in the volunteer Fire Department and served as chief for several years.He enjoyed hunting, fishing and carpentry.

A memorial service will be held at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Hoosick Falls on Saturday, March 21 at 10  am. If friends desire, donations may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Immaculate Conception Church or Rensselaer Hospice.

Carol Bisson

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Hoosick Falls – Carol Bisson 78, passed away on Saturday March 14, 2015 at her residence surrounded by her family. She was the wife of the late Wilfred Bisson. She was born on December 25, 1936, in Pownal, VT, daughter of the late Henry Brimmer and Fannie (Aldrich) Green.

Carol graduated from Williamstown High School in 1954. She worked at various places in Bennington, VT and Hoosick Falls. Carol was a very active member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary in Hoosick Falls. She enjoyed time spent with family especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her children Veronica O’Brien of Bennington, VT, Brad (Jean) Bisson of Dayton, OH, Joyce Grusaky and Melissa Bisson both of Hoosick Falls, Beth (Jay) Devlin of Nassau, NY, a sister Elizabeth Harris of Fl, also several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by two sisters and two brothers.

Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the care of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, New York. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rensselaer County Community Hospice through the funeral home.

Her family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. James Carroll and Rensselaer County Community Hospice staff for their support and care given to Carol.

Linda Blake

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Petersburgh – Linda Suzanne Blake, first born child of John R. Blake and Carol (Goodrich) Blake, was called home to the Lord on March 2, 2015 from complications of adrenal cancer. She was born on January 1, 1964 and is survived by both parents, three sisters Karen (Gary) Blake-Kittle, Melissa (Tab) Eigenbrodt, and Rebecca (Adam) Martin; her beloved step-son Kyle Montag and his father, Hans; as well as several nieces and nephews.

There will be no calling hours and further arrangements will be made privately by the family.

In lieu of flowers or donations, the family asks you to simply remember her infectious smile and warm, generous personality. Honor her life by sharing the same unending happiness and kindness that she did, to those you meet. Spread love and joy with the same sweetness of spirit that she carried within her.

For on-line condolences visit wenkfuneralhome.com.