Obituaries

Hoosick Falls – Donald “Flea” Joseph Decker died on November 1, 2013, surrounded by his three children. He was born on March 18, 1946, to the late Edward and Rosella (Gates) Decker.
As a young man in the Vietnam era, his plans for college were disrupted by the draft, and at the age of 18 he was sent to war. His ability to run under a five minute mile with full gear on earned him the distinguished honor of joining the Green Beret attachments in Vietnam as a radio operator. He earned a Bronze Star for his service as well as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Oak Leaf Cluster and a Presidential Unit Citation.
Upon returning stateside, he went to work at Bijur in Bennington, VT, where he worked his way up over the course of 47 years. He spent the last nine years with Bijur living in Greenville, NC, cheering on his beloved ECU Pirates.
Don was the valedictorian of his graduating class at Southern Vermont College in Bennington. He was a dedicated community member and was a member of the Elks Club in Hoosick Falls, NY, for over 40 years, President and coach for the Hoosick Falls Little League and a Board Member at the Hoosick Falls Youth Center.
In 2012 he retired from Bijur and was able to move back to his hometown of Hoosick Falls to be closer to family. He was devoted to his family and thoroughly enjoyed the company of his grandchildren. Don is pre-deceased by his older brother, Edward, his twin brother, Denny, and his younger sister, Sally. He is survived by his younger brother, Pat Decker of Pownal, VT, his three children, Robert Decker of Hoosick Falls, Scott and Aimee Decker of Sarasota, FL, and Barbara and Jon Moore of Essex Junction, VT, his seven grandchildren and a very special friend, Kathleen Ferguson. He also leaves behind the entire Village of Hoosick Falls in which he had too many friends to count. In the words of Flea, “You gotta laugh every day…”
Relatives and friends may call at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, in Hoosick Falls on Saturday, November 9, from 10 am until 1 pm. Services will be at 1 pm from the funeral home. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Hoosick Falls. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ed Carknard Memorial Fund through the funeral home.

Hoosick Falls – Walter “Wally” John Davendonis, 90, passed away peacefully at his residence on October 26, 2013, after a long illness. Wally was born February 3, 1923, in Hoosick Falls, NY, and was the son of the late John and Cecelia (Zabela) Davendonis.
He attended St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls. At the age of seventeen he joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) in Lovelock, AZ. Upon returning to New York he worked at the Watervliet Arsenal prior to joining the United States Navy during WW II, proudly serving as a Gunner’s Mate, 2nd Class.
Upon his return to Hoosick Falls, he met and married Margaret “Peg” Whittet who pre-deceased him in 1988. Wally owned and ran his plumbing and heating business, then worked at the Hoosac School. He served as a Village Trustee and was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church, Polish Hall, Pioneer Fish and Game Club, VFW and American Legion, all in Hoosick Falls. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed taking a daily chance on the NY Lottery and Win for Life.
Mr. Davendonis is also pre-deceased by his son, Scott, an infant son, a granddaughter, Emily DeLuca, his sisters Anne Como and Helen “Nellie” Toohey, and his brothers Ralph, Anthony, Peter and John Davendonis.
He is survived by his children, Christina and husband Walter Passineau, Margaret and husband Wayne Dukette, Thomas and wife Kim Davendonis, Elizabeth and husband Leo LaRoche, Janet DeLuca and Paul and wife Edith Davendonis, his daughter-in-law, Nancy Davendonis, nineteen grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren, with one on the way, his sister, Adelia and husband Raymond St. Hilaire, his sister-in-law, Eileen Davendonis, and several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends were invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, October 29, at 10 am from the Immaculate Conception Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial followed the Mass at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Hoosick Falls.
Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, on Monday from 4 to 7 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to either the Rensselaer County Community Hospice or the Veterans Honor Flight through the funeral home.

Hoosick Falls – Mrs. Ruth T. Milliman, a resident of Hoosick Falls, NY, passed into the Lord’s presence on October 16, 2013, after a long courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Bennington, VT, on August 14, 1933, Ruth was the daughter of Marie and Thomas Tollisen from White Creek, NY. She graduated from Walter A. Wood High School in Hoosick Falls in 1951.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Guy and Phoebe Milliman of Hoosick Falls and Timothy and Kathy Milliman of Whittier, CA, two grandchildren, the apples of Ruth’s eye, Guy and Nicole, two nephews, Thomas and wife Jane Outwater and Robin and wife Meg Outwater of Bennington and four nieces, TJ, Hilda, Katya and Hannah Outwater.
Ruth is also survived by special sisters in the Lord, Gail Smith, Judy Stewart, Gwen Waldron and Corinne Eldred, and her brother-in-law and close friend, Gabe Terrenzio. Ruth is pre-deceased by her parents and two sisters, Lynn Terrenzio and Hilda Outwater.
For over 40 years Ruth was the proprietor of Ruth’s Beauty Salon in Hoosick Falls where she came to know and love many people. She also dabbled in real estate and, after retiring from the salon, worked for eight years at Cohoes Fashions as a saleswoman.
In 2004 Ruth was diagnosed with cancer and shortly thereafter lost an eye. Her prognosis was that she would not live more than 18 months. It was through the ebb and flow of surgery and recovery and pain and uncertainty that Ruth’s faith was rekindled. Though the past nine years of her life were at times most challenging, her love for Jesus was recaptured and became stronger day by day as she anticipated going home to be with her Savior. In the last year of her life Ruth committed to writing the Holy Scriptures in a notebook, which she did faithfully. Because of God’s grace to her through those years she couldn’t help but share her faith with anyone she encountered.
A memorial service to celebrate Ruth’s life will be held at the convenience of the family. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to The Karen McGovern Fund, The Hospice Foundation or the Hoosick Falls Community Alliance Church through the Mahar and Sons Funeral Home, Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY.