The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Obituaries

Rev. Astrid Park Smith

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Stephentown – Rev. Astrid Park Smith, 91, died peacefully on Thursday, September 26, 2013, at her home in Stephentown, NY. Born in Puhajoki, Finland, on January 15, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Elias Ilmari and Fanni Wiirrett Park. When she was one her family emigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, NY, and later moved to Long Island, NY. Astrid graduated from Mepham High School in North Bellmore, NY, and later attended Eastern Nazarean College in Quincy, MA, where she studied theology and met her husband.
Astrid was called to be a minister by God and assisted her husband, Rev. Ernest D. Smith, at assignments at various churches in Jackman, Farmington Falls and Strong, ME. At the age of 59, Rev. Smith was ordained a minister and served at the Second Congregational Church in Williamstown, MA. In 1965, she moved to Dalton, MA, where she and her husband started the Berkshire First Church of the Nazarean. Throughout her life, Rev. Smith led a consistent Christian devotional life. She was saved and sanctified. Astrid was a wonderful mother and was very talented as a watercolor artist and painter. In 1988 she moved to Stephentown and was a member of the Hill & Valley Women’s Club in New Lebanon, NY.
She was the beloved wife of 70 years of Rev. Ernest D. Smith, loving mother of Brenda Lee Christiana of Stephentown, David Ernest and wife Bonnie Smith of Peru, MA, Janice Evelyn and husband Calvin Letson of Jackson, GA, Stephen A. Smith of Stephentown and Philip D. Smith and Jennifer LeBlanc of Leicester, VT, grandmother of Mark, Lisa, Joshua, Jadrian, Annette, Andrea, Ashley, Ariel, Melanie, Nathaniel and Cherie. She had 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. She was the sister of Merriam Williams of Minnesota and the late Ellen, Irene and Martha, the sister-in-law of Wilma, Dorothy, Elizabeth and the late Keith Smith.
The funeral service was Monday, September 30, at 3 pm at the Berkshire First Church of the Nazarean in Dalton. Friends called at the Church from 2 to 3 pm. The interment was Tuesday at the Maplewood Cemetery in Fairfield, ME.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Berkshire First Church of the Nazarean, 165 North Street, Dalton, MA, 01226, or to the Pilgrim Holiness Church, 421 Elm Street, Pittsfield, MA, 01201. Arrangements are by the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home in Stephentown.

June I. McInerney

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Hoosick Falls – June I. McInerney, 91, of 27 Mechanic Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, passed away on Thursday, September 19, 2013, at Samaritan Hospital in Troy, NY. Born June 7, 1922, in Vly Summit, NY, she was the daughter of Raymond and Emma O. (Brown) Allen. June was the wife of the late Gerard V. McInerney of Cambridge, NY.
Survivors include a son, Terry A. Kelley of Troy, a sister Dolores (Skiff) Grover of Troy, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren as well as nephews and nieces.
Services were held Monday, September 23, at the Stump Church Cemetery in Cambridge with the Rev. George H. Orlemann of Cambridge officiating.
Arrangements were under the guidance of the New Comer Cannon Funeral Home in Colonie, NY.

Linda J. Nugent

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Berlin – Linda J. Nugent, 70, of Taylor Avenue, Berlin, NY, died on Friday, September 13, 2013, at the Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA.
Born on the 4th of July, 1943, in Newburgh, NY, she was the daughter of the late Donald Jose Lopez and Edith V. Earle. She was the loving wife of Donald K. Nugent, whom she married in Cornwall, NY  on October 25, 1975. [Read more…] about Linda J. Nugent

Charleene L. Hafensteiner

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Troy – Charleene L. Hafensteiner, 71, of Williams Road, Troy, NY, died peacefully at her home on Wednesday, September 11, 2013, under the care of Community Hospice of Rensselaer County.
Born in Petersburgh, NY, on March 28, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Lionel and Frances Brimmer Bentley. She was the loving wife of Michael J. Hafensteiner, whom she married on December 31, 1992, in Petersburgh.
Charleene graduated from the Walter A. Wood High School in Hoosick Falls, NY, in 1959. She was a member of the Petersburgh Baptist Church while living in Petersburgh. She worked for the Berlin Central School District as a bus driver and trainer then for Folmsbee Transportation as a bus monitor, retiring in 2008. She had worked with her mom in the B & B Ceramic Studio in Petersburgh. Besides ceramics, Charleene enjoyed knitting, cooking and handcrafts. Her true love was that of her family and grandchildren. She is pre-deceased by her former husbands, Robert Winn and Victor D. Weeden.
Besides her husband, she is survived by her children, James A. and wife Marie Winn and John P. and wife Stacy Winn of Berlin, NY, Sharla E. and husband Shane Clute of North Greenbush, NY, and Scott M. and wife Tami Weeden of Greenwood, AR, her step-children, Victor D. Weeden Jr, Lisa N. Weeden and Jamie L. Valero, and 14 grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, September 15, at 6 pm in the Petersburgh Baptist Church where Rev. Trygve Tomlinson of the West Stephentown Baptist Church officiated. Relatives and friends were invited to the Church for visitation starting at 5 pm.
Committal services took place on Monday, September 16, at 10:30 am in the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.
Memorial contributions would be appreciated and can be given to either the West Stephentown Baptist Church or the Fred Shapiro’s Stem Cell Research Program at Albany Medical Center in care of the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, P.O. Box 361, Petersburgh, NY, 12138.

Ronald L. Hasbrouck Jr.

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Grafton – Ronald L. “Skip” Hasbrouck Jr., 59, of Old Road, Grafton, NY, died Sunday, September 1, 2013, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy, NY, after a long illness.
Born in Troy, he was the son of the late Ronald L. Hasbrouck Sr. and Malvina Durivage Hasbrouck and the husband for 37 years of Shirley A. Thurber Hasbrouck. He had resided in Grafton all his life and was a graduate of the Berlin Central School District.
Skip was an operating engineer for Callanan Industries at Clemente Latham Concrete for over 30 years and formerly worked for Duncan’s Poured Foundations and the Rensselaer County Highway Department.
“Poppy” loved spending time with his grandchildren. He was a past member of the Grafton Fire Company and Rescue Squad and loved camping at Lake Lauderdale in Cambridge, NY, camp games, NASCAR and the Liars’ Club.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include two sons, Ronald R. and wife Jennifer Hasbrouck of Grafton and Jonathan L. and wife Heather Hasbrouck of Grafton, eight grandchildren, Alyssa, Carissa, Kaitlyn, Michael, Anthony, Lillian, Caleb and Colin, a brother, Herbert S. and wife Maxine Hasbrouck of Grafton, two sisters, Suzanne M. and husband David Baker of Colonie, NY, and Robin M. Hasbrouck of Grafton, special friends, Jack and Terri Kaschak of Brunswick, NY, and several nieces and nephews.
At Skip’s request there will be no services.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Ronald L. Hasbrouck Jr. to the Lake Lauderdale Campground, RR#1, Box 256-12, Cambridge, NY, 12816.
For a private family guest book, visit www.brycefh.com.

Arthur E. Smith Jr.

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Hoosick Falls – Arthur E. Smith Jr., 89, died August 29, 2013, after a short illness, surrounded by his family at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at Hoosick Falls, NY. He had been married to Gwendolyn (McMartin) Smith for 66 years.
Born April 22,1924, in Petersburgh, NY, he was the son of the late Arthur E. Sr. and Grace (Fuller) Smith. He was a lifetime resident of North Petersburgh, NY. Arthur graduated from the Walter A. Wood High School in Hoosick Falls as Salutatorian in the class of 1941. He then started a career as a builder. Many of the homes he built are located throughout the Hoosick and Taconic Valleys. He was an original member of the School Board of the Hoosick Falls Central School in 1956 and served two terms as President. He retired from the School Board in 1975 and from his business in 1991.
Apart from events celebrating his family life, he enjoyed outdoor sports including hunting and fishing. His favorite sports teams were the Boston Red Sox and the Dallas Cowboys.
Survivors, other than his wife Gwendolyn, are his four sons, David from Wellfleet, MA, Daniel and wife Gail of North Petersburgh, Dennis and wife Pam of North Petersburgh and Richard of Hoosick Falls. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In 1963 Arthur and his work crew converted the North Petersburgh schoolhouse into a chapel known as the North Petersburgh Methodist Church. The services for Arthur were held from this chapel on Tuesday September 3, at 12:30 pm. Relatives and friends called at the chapel from 11 am until the service. The burial followed at the Hoosick Rural Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Centers For Nursing and Rehabilitation or the North Petersburgh Methodist Church through the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090.
The family wishes to thank all the professionals at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, The Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation and all those who provided his excellent care. For persons unable to attend the services the family suggests that they spend time talking with friends and family about an activity Art enjoyed throughout his life.