Berlin – Nicholas S. Homiak, 73, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 26, 2014. Born on April 8, 1941 in Paterson, NJ, he was the son of the late Nicholas and Julia (Kreel) Homiak.
Obituaries
Donald W. St. Hilaire
Hoosick Falls – Donald W. St. Hilaire, 84, a lifelong resident of Hoosick Falls, NY, passed away on Sunday, July 27, 2014, at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT. He was the husband of the late G. Albertine (Lunos) St. Hilaire, who died in 2002. Donald resided on Main Street in Hoosick Falls.
Born on July 16, 1930, in Hoosick Falls, Donald was the son of the late Joseph and Yvonne (Dumouchel) St. Hilaire. He was a very proud graduate of St. Mary’s Academy and was a veteran of the United States Army serving from 1951-1957; he received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals.
Donald was the District Manager for the Grand Union Company for forty-seven years until retiring. He was a member and Past Commander of the American Legion Post # 40, a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church, a founding member of the Lions Club and a past member of the former Elks Lodge, all in Hoosick Falls.
Survivors include his children, Tammy Lankford of Florence, SC, Donald W. St. Hilaire Jr. and wife Pearl, of Long Beach, CA, Austin and wife Heather St. Hilaire of Hoosick Falls and David and wife Julie St. Hilaire of East Greenbush, NY, his brother, Raymond and wife Dale St. Hilaire of Hoosick Falls, his grandchildren, Benjamin, Amanda, Tiffany, Renee, Jonathan, Danielle, Shania and Gabriella, three great-grandchildren, Josiah, Bebe and Avianna, and many nieces, nephews and friends. He is pre-deceased by five sisters, Alice Lozo, Veleda Graney, Leona Turner, Velma (Sister Yvonne) St. Hilaire and Lucille (Sister Adelina) St. Hilaire, and two brothers, Harvey and William St. Hilaire.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Wednesday, July 30, at 10 am from the Immaculate Conception Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial was at the Saratoga National/Gerald B.H. Solomon Cemetery in Schuylerville, NY.
Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, on Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet or St. Mary’s Academy through the funeral home.
Mary E. Watkins
Hoosick Falls – Mary E. Watkins, 83, died on July 26, 2014 at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT, after a battle with cancer. She had resided at 58 High Street in Hoosick Falls, NY. She was the wife of Thomas S. Watkins, who died in 1980. Mary moved from North Carolina to Carey Avenue in Hoosick Falls in 1980.
Angeles T. Hall
Angeles T. Hall, 88, passed away on July 14, 2014 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy. Born in Cabagan, Isabella in the Philippines, she was the youngest of ten children born to the late Fausta & Jose Taggueg. A World War II survivor of the Japanese Invasion, she graduated from the University of Santa Tomas in Manila with a degree in nursing.
Ruth D. Conklin
Hoosick Falls – Ruth D. Conklin, 86, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2014. Ruth was the wife of the late Howard R. Conklin.
Born October 22, 1927, in Albany, NY, she was the daughter of the late William and Elizabeth (Becker) Gauger. Ruth attended schools in Schenectady and Ticonderoga, NY, graduating in 1945. Marrying Howard in November 1945, Ruth had five children and devoted her time raising them as a stay at home mom. Ruth also enjoyed singing, being part of the Myrtle Beach Chorale for several years before moving back to the NY area in 1992.
Survivors include her children, Donna Conklin and Susan Burdick of Johnsonville, NY, Eileen Rupp of New Windsor, NY, Richard Conklin of Highland Mills, NY, and Michael Conklin of Montana, a sister, Jean Thrailkill of Le Mar, CO, her brothers, Werner Gauger of Scotia, NY, and Paul Gauger of Ticonderoga. Ruth is also survived by sixteen grandchildren and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by a sister, Margaret Looman, and a brother, William Gauger.
“We will always remember the times we had together with you Mom. Love you forever, miss you everyday, never forgotten, till we meet again, XXXXOOOO.”
Relatives and friends may call at the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel on Oakwood Avenue in Troy, NY, from 2 to 4 pm. Burial 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.
Virginia E. Cuddihy
Hoosick – Virginia E. (Murphy) Cuddihy joined her husband Richard J. Cuddihy and son David on July 18, 2014. Virginia had resided on Burgess Road in Hoosick, NY.
Born on December 9, 1922, in Hoosick Falls, Virginia was the daughter of Richard and Virginia (Muldowney) Murphy. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls as well as the Mildred Elley School and attended the College of St. Rose, both in Albany, NY. Virginia was a member of the Cheney Library Book Club and a volunteer at the Center For Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hoosick Falls as well as a member of their auxiliary. She was also a former member of the Catholic Daughters of America.
Survivors include her children, Janice Soscia and husband Michael of Latham, NY, Virginia Lynn Cuddihy and John Taylor of Hoosick Falls, Richard Cuddihy and wife Pam of Hoosick Falls and Mark Cuddihy and wife Lisa of Cambridge, NY. She is also survived by a brother, Robert F. Murphy of Palmdale, CA, her grandchildren, Tricia Bettis, Eric, Bridget, Amy and Sarah Cuddihy, Erin and Elizabet Soscia and Ben Taylor, her great-grandchildren, Michaela, Whitney, Mia, Kendall and Sophia. Her three good friends, Peg Crucetti, Inge Frickie and Judy Stewart, and two sisters-in-law, Rita Hunt and Elizabeth Murphy. She is pre-deceased by a brother, Richard F. Murphy, two sisters, Frances O’Neil and Anita Andrews, and four grandchildren, Timothy, Christopher, Michelle and Jennifer.
Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, on Monday, July 21, from 4 to 8 pm. The Mass of Christian burial was held on Tuesday, July 22, from the Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls at 11 am. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary’s Academy or the Town of Hoosick Historical Society through the funeral home.
Frank H. DeTraglia Jr.
Eagle Bridge – Frank H. DeTraglia Jr., 81, died on July 7, 2014, at the Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY. He had resided on Old State Road in Eagle Bridge, NY, with his wife Ruth (McQuad) DeTraglia.
Angeles T. Hall
Berlin – Angeles T. Hall, 88, formerly of Berlin, NY, passed away on July 14, 2014, with her family by her side at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy, NY. She is pre-deceased by Tony Hall, her husband of 45 years.
A resident of Berlin for over 30 years, Angie worked as an RN in Bennington, VT, and as an LPN instructor in Troy for BOCES (now known as Questar). Upon retirement from BOCES she occasionally worked as a substitute teacher for the Berlin Central School District and volunteered her time at the Berlin Senior Center and Our Lady of the Snow Parish in Grafton.
Surviving Angie are her three children, Audrey and husband Scott Vanderhoef of Grafton, NY, Albert and wife Kim Hall of Latham, NY, and Alan and wife Michelle Hall of East Greenbush, NY. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Christine, Andrew, Annie and Lydia Hall. Angie also leaves behind her dear friends, Bob “Murph” Anderson and his daughter Amy, Valerie Bulson and Michael Kneutter.
Angie’s remains will be donated to the Albany Medical College’s Anatomical Gift Program. A memorial service is planned for 11 am on Saturday, August 2, at Our Lady of the Snow Parish in Grafton.
To honor Angie’s memory, those who wish may make contributions, in lieu of flowers, to the Parish of Our Lady of the Snow, P.O. Box 234, Grafton, NY, 12082.
George E. Durkee Jr.
Eagle Bridge – George E. Durkee Jr., 62, passed away on Thursday, July 10, 2014, at his residence on County Route 68 in Eagle Bridge, NY. He had resided there with his wife Linda (Ogert) Durkee.
Born on January 5, 1952, in Troy, NY, George was the son of the late George E. and Lois (Weatherbee) Durkee Sr. George was educated at St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls, NY, and graduated from Hudson Valley Community College. He enjoyed hunting and dowsing. For many years he owned and operated the White Creek Store and ran a plumbing business from that location after its closing.
Survivors, other than his wife Linda, include their son, David Durkee and wife Lauren of Dayton, ME, his sister, Nancy Rietz of Latham, NY, and two grandchildren, MacKenna and Declan Durkee.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 19, at 10 am in the West Hoosick Cemetery on the Buskirk/West Hoosick Road in West Hoosick, NY. Arrangements are under the care of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice through the funeral home.
Wesley Edmund Sandberg, Jr.
Berlin – Wesley Edmund Sandberg, Jr. (known as Wes), 76, of Luther Forest in Malta, NY, passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday, July 5, 2014. Wes was born on August 28, 1937, in the Bronx, NY, and was the son of the late Wesley E. and Dorothy Beckerith Sandberg. He grew up in Berlin, NY, attended the Crane School of Music and was a graduate of SUNY Potsdam earning his teaching degree in music. Wesley had been a music teacher for close to 30 years, first with the Shenendehowa Central School District and later with the Waterford Halfmoon Union Free School District from February 1, 1971, until he retired on June 30, 1993.
As a teacher, Wes shared his love and appreciation of music and theater with his students; he had high expectations of them and left lasting impressions on many. Like his father, Wes was gifted in the woodworking craft, creating intricate decorative boxes, cabinets and furniture. He was not one to read a manual and could fix anything; he always knew how to make it better or stronger. He was a perfectionist in all he did and worked tirelessly until he got it just right. He was always whistling, always had a piano to play and sang in a variety of local choral groups. He was an avid art, music and ballet enthusiast. Although he was a man who kept mostly to himself, those who knew him recognized Wes as a very special, unique and passionate man with exceptional sensitivity, wisdom and a hearty, loud laugh. Wes, also named “Poppy” by his only grandson Nicholas, was everything and more a grandfather and father should be, including a best friend.
Wesley is the husband of Marilyn Seidelmann Sandberg of Malta and was always there for her, the father of Lisa and husband David Hodgkinson of Scotia, NY, the brother of Doris Reichelt of Berlin and the late Caryl Sandberg, the uncle of Tammy Reichelt and Greg Goodermote and the grandfather of Nicholas Allen Hodgkinson of Scotia, Poppy’s inspiration and favorite.
Services will be held at the Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home, 1550 Route 9, Clifton Park, NY, on Saturday, July 19, promptly at 10 am.
Immediately following the services, interment will be held for the family in the Jonesville Cemetery, A Victorian Resting Place For All. Flowers for the service are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York, 4 Pine West Plaza, Suite 405, Albany, NY, 12205.