The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Obituaries

Lansing Burdick

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Stephentown – Lansing “Scotty” Burdick, 92, died peacefully at his farmhouse on Friday, February 28, 2014, with his family at his side. Born in the family homestead on the farm in Stephentown, NY, on May 8, 1921, he was the son of the late Elwin A. and Anna Snell Burdick, Sr. He was a graduate of Berlin High School, Class of 1939, and later graduated from Troy Technical Institute (now HVCC) with a degree in accounting.

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Margaret Hoffman

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Hoosick Falls – Margaret Hoffman, 98, of Hoosick Falls, NY, peacefully passed on Saturday, March 1, 2014, at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hoosick Falls, formerly the Hoosick Falls Health Center.

Born in the port city of Giovinazza, in the province of Bari, Italy, to Angelo and Anna Rose Restino on November 1, 1915, Margaret was always proud of her Italian heritage. At the age of four, the family settled in Hoosick Falls, where she would spend the remainder of her many years.

Married to the late Kenneth Hoffman, Margaret is survived by her two sisters, Sophie and Angeline, and countless nieces, nephews and cousins.

As the oldest of six, Sadie Starsiak, Augusta Vitro, Antoinette Williams, Sophie Ravena, Thomas Restino and Angeline Fulginiti, Margaret was always at the center of the family. Her comforting ways made her home the meeting place for gatherings large and small. A welcoming smile, a warm kettle of tea or a comfortable chair always awaited the many friends and family who came through her door. While she will be missed by many, Margaret has left a legacy of loving memories that has touched generations.

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Tuesday, March 4, at 10 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, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, on Monday from 4 to 7 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad through the funeral home.

Harold J. Jones

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Hoosick Falls – Harold J. Jones, 56, passed away on Tuesday, February 25, 2013, at his residence after a brief illness. He was the husband of Cindy Lou (Wilson) Jones.

Born on May 14, 1957, in Cambridge, NY, Harold was the son of Howard B. and Blanche (Sherman) Jones of Buskirk, NY. He graduated from Cambridge Central School. Harold was employed by the Hoosick Falls Central School as a bus driver. He also drove bus for the Green Mountain Express and was formerly employed at Oak Mitsui in Hoosick Falls, NY. Harold was a member of the Vermont Army National Guard, the Cornerstone Fellowship Church and the North Hoosick Fire Department. He was a former member of the Hoosick Falls Fire Department and the Buskirk Fire Department. Harold enjoyed camping, Sunday rides with his wife Cindy and the time spent with family.

Survivors, other than his wife Cindy, include his daughter, Katrina Jones Inigo of Hoosick Falls, his sister, Lynn Jones of Buskirk, three brothers, Howard Jr. of Palatka, FL, Paul of Hoosick Falls and Doug of Stephens City, VA, three grandchildren, Jaylen Michael, Jenny Grace and Jane Addaline, his father and mother-in-law, Skip and Jackie Wilson, his sister-in-law, Bonnie Lee, his brothers-in-law, Clinton Jr., Wayne and Eric Wilson, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are on Thursday evening, February 27, at 7 pm from the North Hoosick Fire Department on Route 22, North Hoosick, NY. Relatives and friends may call at the Fire House on Thursday from 4 to 7 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the North Hoosick Fire Department. Arrangements are under the direction of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls.

Joan M. O’Neill

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Hoosick Falls – Joan M. O’Neill passed away on February 20, 2014, at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY, at the age of 80. She had resided on Clay Hill Road in Hoosick, NY, and was the wife of the late Charles O’Neill, who died on May 27, 2009.

Born on August 5, 1933, in Hoosick Falls, NY, Joan was the daughter of the late John and Madelyn (Doyle) Murphy. She graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls and received her B.A. in English from Southern Vermont College in Bennington, VT. Joan was a real estate agent. She owned and operated Joan O’Neill Real Estate in Hoosick Falls, for several years. She enjoyed skiing and swimming and was an instructor for both. Joan was an avid gardener and enjoyed her morning walks throughout Hoosick Falls with her dog Molly. She was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church. Joan’s family was the fourth generation living in Hoosick Falls, a community she loved.

Survivors include her daughters, Deborah Lockemeyer of Shortsville, NY, and Mary Ellen O’Neill of Hoosick Falls, her sons, Robert O’Neill and wife Debra of Exeter, NH, and Timothy O’Neill and wife Patty of Fredericksburg, VA, her brother, Jonathan Robert Murphy of New Port, FL, and seven grandchildren, Robert William O’Neill and Julianna O’Neill, both of Exeter, Charlie, Sam, William and Zoey O’Neill, all of Fredericksburg, and Noah Chani of Hoosick Falls.

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Monday, February 24, at 1 pm from the Immaculate Conception Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial followed the Mass at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hoosick Falls.

There were no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Academy through the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, which is handling the arrangements.

Patricia Jean Sherman

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Stephentown/New Lebanon – On February 5, 2014, Pat Sherman of Stephentown, NY, left the earth she loved so well. Born downstate, daughter of the late Lucille and Maury Medwick, she always knew there must be a place where she could live freely and unpretentiously, and once she found that place, she never left. She was an idealist and a realist who understood that the wilderness where she made her home had to be respected and fought for – she was a fighter through and through. She had little use for the things most people worried about – possessions, luxuries, even conveniences like electricity – but could love a tree to distraction and would go to any lengths to protect the creatures of the woods, many of which she rescued during her many years as a wildlife rehabilitator. It was not unusual for her to call a wild raccoon by name and see it come to her door. Her grandchildren remember how much fun it was to be with her; she had a wicked sense of humor.

In recent years she ran her antique shop in New Lebanon, NY, with the honest warmth, courtesy and cheerfulness she brought to her family, friends and the community that meant so much to her. Pat was too unsentimental to want to hear compliments like these, but those who loved her can’t hold them back now.

She leaves behind her children, Kelly Striefler of New Hampton, Bill Smith, of Stephentown and Kevin Smith of New Lebanon, her sisters, Sue Egen of Tucson, AZ, and Cathy Medwick of Somers, NY, and her grandchildren, Katelyn, Kimberly, Martin and M.J., Freling, Jessica, Candy, Linda, Michelle, William Jr., Jeanie and Kevin Jr.

Friends are invited to gather for refreshments and to celebrate Pat’s life at Smitty’s Pizza and Subs, Route 20, New Lebanon on Saturday, February 22, between 1 and 3 pm.