The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Obituaries

Lillian Ruth Brandi

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LaGrange – Lillian Ruth Brandi, 91, passed away on Monday, May 12, 2014, in LaGrange, Kentucky. Devoted wife of the late Joseph Brandi and loving mother of her children, Jay Brandi and wife Mary Ellen, Terry Brandi and wife Terry and Kathleen Francis and husband Bill, she lived a full and satisfying life.

Lillian was born in Bennington, VT. on March 5, 1923, to Jon and Alta Docherty. She was their youngest child and was preceded in death by her brother, Paul Docherty, and sisters, Edna Stanley and Opal Lindsay.

Lillian was a talented artist working both in canvas and ceramics with a special talent for dogs and landscapes. For many years she raised and trained and showed dogs, with her entries winning many events, including Best of Breeds at the famed Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, NY. She served for many years as officer for her local Kennel Club in New Jersey. In addition to painting and working with her dogs, she loved bowling and playing bocce, especially with her husband Joseph. Lillian is survived by her children, 16 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Lillian’s family would like to thank the kind women at The Cottages of LaGrange where she was cared for so lovingly in her last days.

Visitation was at Heady-Radcliffe Funeral Home in LaGrange on Thursday, May 15, from 4 to 8 pm with a Memorial Service at 6 pm. There was also a Mass of Remembrance at St. Louis Bertrand Church in Louisville, KY, on Friday, May 16, at 9:30 am. A World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy Lillian will be interred next to her loving husband Joseph at the Veterans Cemetery at Fort Knox, KY, on Tuesday, May 20.

Online condolences can be made at www.heady-radcliffefuneralhome.com.

Caroline C. Perkins – Memorial Service

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Cherry Plain – Caroline C. Crandall Perkins, 97, died February 27, 2014. She was the wife of the late Andrew H. Perkins, the mother of Ann and her husband Marc Woodroe, Lorraine and her husband Joe Schiff, Carol Wagar and Patricia and her husband David Shuhart. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 10, at 1 pm at the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, 66 Armsby Road, Petersburgh, NY, with visitation prior to the service from 11 am to 1 pm. A lunch will follow in the Berlin Methodist Church.

John M. Saunders

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Berlin/New Lebanon – John M. Saunders, 54, of New Lebanon, NY, passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2014, at the Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA. Born in North Adams, MA, John was the son of the late Robert F. and Elizabeth May Bentley Saunders.

John recently resided in New Lebanon but had been a resident of Berlin, NY, for most of his life. He was a correctional officer for over 25 years working at several correctional facilities, recently retiring from the Hudson Correctional Facility where he had been employed for the past 20 years. John was a member of the Catskill Masonic Lodge #468. He loved fishing, hunting, trapping and spending time in Daytona Beach, FL. He will be truly missed.

John is survived by his cherished children, Joshua Saunders of New Lebanon and Marcella Saunders of Agawam, MA, and his devoted brother, William R. Saunders.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of John’s life that will be held on Sunday, May 11, at the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 Rte. 43, Stephentown, NY, from 1 to 3 pm.

Helen E. Thomas

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Berlin – Helen E. Thomas, 75, passed away peacefully on Sunday afternoon, May 4, 2014, at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at Hoosick Falls, NY, surrounded by her loving family.

Helen was born in New Lebanon, NY, and retired from W.J. Cowee, Inc. in Berlin, NY, where she worked in manufacturing floral picks.

She is pre-deceased by her husband, Alonzo R. Thomas, and her siblings, Floyd Whitman and Gertrude Whitman. Survivors include her children, Susan Walters and Michael Thomas, Sr., her grandchildren, Meagan Hall, Michael Thomas, Jr. and Valarie Thomas, her great-grandchildren, Austin and Derek Tremblay, and her sister, Alice Hobson. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service was on Thursday, May 8, at 12 pm at the Cherry Plain Community Christian Church, Cherry Plain, NY, with burial to follow in the Berlin Community Cemetery. Viewing hours were on Thursday from 10 to 12 at the Church.

For online condolences please visit, www.parkerbrosmemorial.com.

Stephen K. Bobik

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Stephentown – Stephen K. Bobik, a longtime resident of Moore Hill Road in Stephentown, NY, passed away peacefully at the age of 69 on April 22, 2014, after a long illness. He was able to remain with his wife Judy until the very end, which is all he ever asked for the entire time.

Born in Schenectady, NY, Stephen attended Mohonasen and Linton High Schools, Hudson Valley Community College and went on to receive his Master’s Degree from Union College. He was employed as a Mechanical Engineer at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory for many years, retiring in 2006. An avid fisherman and hunter, he was founder and president of the Knolls Fishing Club at KAPL.

After residing for many years in Rotterdam, NY, Steve lived in Castleton-on-Hudson, NY, and then Stephentown. He was well known locally as a true outdoorsman who found his greatest joy in living among nature’s splendor and sharing his lifelong passion for the conservation of its resources. He was also an accomplished cross-country runner, awarded for his achievements in high school, at Hudson Valley CC and in numerous marathons.

Survivors include his wife, Judy of Delmar, NY, his daughter, Patricia Sezna and her husband Steven of Los Angeles, CA, his sister, Suzanne Whelan and her husband Charles of Ocala, FL, his grandsons, Randall Bobik and Christopher Bobik, both of Rotterdam, as well as several aunts, nephews and cousins. He is pre-deceased by his son, Stephen M. Bobik.

The family is so grateful to all the people of Stephentown who helped us through this difficult time. We will never forget the amazing optimism he carried within him even in the face of his greatest challenge.

A funeral service was held Monday morning, April 28, at Daly Funeral Home in Schenectady with interment at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Memorial donations in Steve’s name may be made online or by check to the Natural Heritage Trust for New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation Education Camps. For details please visit the website www.dec.ny.gov/education/96461.html.

Elaine W. Goodermote – Graveside Service

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East Poestenkill – A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 17, at 1 pm at the Woodside Cemetery on Fifty Six Road, Poestenkill, NY, for Elaine W. Goodermote of Plank Road, Averill Park, NY. Elaine died on December 21, 2013, after a long illness. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.

Nathan A. Winters

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Petersburgh – Nathan Andrew Winters, 34, died Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY, due to injuries sustained in an ATV accident on his farm in Petersburgh, NY. Born in Lancaster, PA, on November 16, 1979, he is the loving son of Grace Fuller VanWinkle and stepson of Eric VanWinkle of Lebanon, PA, and the late LeeRoy Winters. He was a graduate of Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon and attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.

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Jo Anne Sykes

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Stephentown – Jo Anne “Dolly” Loomis Sykes, 61, died peacefully on Monday, April 28, 2014, at the Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA, with her family at her side. Born in Troy on June 28, 1952, she was the daughter of the late George Loomis and Mary Meyers Connar and is the step-daughter of Helen Loomis of Bennington, VT. Jo Anne resided in Stephentown, NY, for most of her life. She was employed at Sykes General Store in Stephentown and Jiminy Peak Resort in Hancock, MA.

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Agnes Lassor

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Hoosick Falls – Agnes Lassor, 94, passed away on April 22, 2014, in Bennington, VT, where she had resided this past year in Emeritus at Fillmore Pond. “Nessie” was comforted during her final weeks by her loving family and the compassionate staff at Fillmore Pond.

Agnes “Nessie” Stirling was born April 1, 1920, in Dundee, Scotland. At the age of five she came to Hoosick Falls, NY. She lived with her parents and siblings at 4 Saratoga Street where she raised her six children and cared for her mother and brother.

Nessie was a loving grandmother to fifteen grandchildren and known as “Grandma the Great” to twenty-two great-grandchildren. She was also a caring aunt to many nieces and nephews, the Myers, the Marxs and the Stirlings.

Soon after the death of Larry Lassor in 2003 Nessie chose to live with her daughter Lorraine in Hoosick Falls where she resided until June 2013 when she moved into Fillmore Pond.

Nessie is pre-deceased by her loving husband of 60 years, Lawrence J. Lassor, and a daughter, Janice Marie Polacek. She is survived by her daughters, Lorraine Dooley and husband Ron, Laura Ricci and husband Bill and Ginny Hotze and husband Jim, her sons, Richard Lassor and wife Melissa and David Lassor and wife Phoebe, and her daughters-in-law, Andrea Lassor and Teresa Lassor.

Nessie’s life will be celebrated with a funeral Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls at 11 am on Saturday, June 7, 2014. Burial will follow at Parklawn Cemetery in Bennington, VT, with a reception following at the Hoosick Falls Country Club. Memorial contributions may be made to the Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad through the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY. 12090, which is handling the arrangements.

The family would like to thank our doctor and friend, Marcus Martinez, and the staff at Fillmore Pond for outstanding and compassionate care. The love we felt during mom’s final days was very comforting. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.