Petersburgh – Helen P. Knauer Willbrant, 85, of Willbrant Road, Petersburgh, NY, died on Monday, April 8, 2013, at the Center for Living and Rehabilitation in Bennington, VT, where she had been a resident for three years.
Born in Troy, NY, on January 5, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Anna Heinike Knauer. Helen was the loving wife of Robert F. Willbrant, whom she married on June 2, 1946, in St. Lawrence Church in Troy. She was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls, NY.
Helen was raised and attended schools in Troy. In her earlier years she worked for Montgomery Ward in Menands, NY. She met her future husband, Bob, at a dance where their courtship started. After their marriage, they moved to Cherry Plain, NY, and in 1955 purchased the Maple Lane Farm in Petersburgh. She became a “farmer’s wife,” helping around the farm while raising their children. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt who will be dearly missed.
Survivors include her husband of 66 years, Bob, her three children, David R. and wife Diane Willbrant of Oklahoma City, OK, Nancy H. and husband Charles Stearns of Petersburgh, Anna M. Willbrant-Rice and husband Steven of East Nassau, NY, her sister, Celia, who was married to the late Arthur Allen of California, her brother, Lawrence and wife Dorothy Knauer of Troy, her grandchildren, William, Warren and Robert Willbrant, Steven Stearns, Audrey Kuhn and Dustin Rice, and her great-grandchildren, Lana Willbrant and Conner Kuhn, along with many nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by siblings, Theresa Cote and Nicholas, Henry and Anna Mary Knauer.
A Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Thomas Zelker at the Immaculate Conception Church, 67 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, on Saturday, April 13, at 10 am. Burial will follow in the Berlin Community Cemetery.
Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation on Friday, April 12, from 4 to 7 pm in the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, 66 Armsby Road, Petersburgh. Memorial contributions in Helen’s memory may be given to the Center for Living and Rehabilitation Activity Fund, 160 Hospital Drive, Bennington, VT, 05201.
Obituaries
Funeral Notice For John A. O’Dell
Berlin – John A. O’Dell of Brookside Park, Berlin, NY, died peacefully at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hoosick Falls, NY, on Tuesday evening, April 9, 2013.
Funeral services will be on Tuesday, April 16, at 2 pm in the First Baptist Church of Berlin. Inurnment with full military honors will follow in the Berlin Baptist Cemetery. Relatives and friends may visit with family at the Church on Tuesday starting at noon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home.
Thomas Moses
Glens Falls – Thomas G. Moses (Tommy), a very special young man, passed on to the Lord, Wednesday, April 3, 2013, surrounded by loving family and friends. He was born July 9, 1974, in Bennington, VT.
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Regina Hubbard
Hoosick – Regina (Jeanie) Hubbard, 81, passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2013, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY. She was the wife of the late Richard Hubbard, who died in 1994. Jeanie resided in the Town of Hoosick, NY.
Born on September 5, 1931, in Cambridge, NY, she was the daughter of the late John and Teresa (Rimkunas) Wirmusky. She graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls, NY. Jeanie and her husband Dick, along with her family, owned and operated the American House in Hoosick Falls for many years until its closing in 2001. It was there she welcomed, enjoyed and touched so many lives.
Survivors include her daughter, Teresa and husband Jim Brennan and grandson Christopher Brennan, all of Watervliet, NY, her nephews, A.J., Richard, Frank and Peter Wirmusky, and her dear friend, Nancy Martelle. She is pre-deceased by a sister, Helen Van Estline, a brother, Anthony Wirmusky, and a nephew, Stephen Wirmusky.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Wednesday, April 10, from the Immaculate Conception Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial followed the Mass in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Hoosick Falls.
Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, on Tuesday from 5 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Academy through the funeral home.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the doctors and staff at St. Peters Hospital Cardiac and Vascular Center for their compassion and care for Jeanie.
Jack Fox
Petersburgh – Jack Vincent Fox, 87, died suddenly and peacefully in his home in Petersburgh, NY, on Wednesday, March 27, 2013. He is pre-deceased by his beloved wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Felton Fox, to whom he was married for 62 years, his parents, Jacob Lewis Fox and Anna Elsie Shank Fox of Hatfield, PA, and his sister, Theresa Irene Fox Reese of Dickinson, TN.
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Kenneth W. Eldred
Potter Hill – Kenneth W. Eldred, 92, passed away on Monday, March 18, 2013, at home in Potter Hill, NY. Kenneth was the husband of the late June Eldred, who died in 1980.
Kenneth was born on July 24, 1920, in Potter Hill. He was the son of the late George and Edna (O’Dell) Eldred. He attended school and was a lifelong farmer in Potter Hill.
Survivors include his daughter, Jean Esposito and husband Nicholas of North Carolina, his sons, Kenneth A. and wife Lillian, James F. and wife Corinne and John A. and wife Patricia, and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of Potter Hill. He is pre-deceased by three brothers and four sisters.
At Kenneth’s request there were no calling hours. Burial was at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the care of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rensselaer County Community Hospice through the funeral home.
James E. Kennedy
Stephentown – James E. Kennedy, 82, of Sutherland Road, Stephentown, NY, passed away March 19, 2013, under the care of Community Hospice of Rensselaer County after a two year illness.
Born on October 4, 1930, in Beaulaville, NC, Jim was the son of the late John and Katie Kennedy. Educated and raised in North Carolina, Jim enlisted in the United States Army, serving in Korea. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and a life member of the VFW. Before moving to New York, Jim resided in Scituate, MA, where he worked for the Department of Public Works for many years. Jim enjoyed gardening and tending to his lawns as well as hunting and fishing. Up until four years ago, he wintered in Florida.
He leaves his wife, Audrey, his daughter, Kathleen of Averill Park, NY, a stepson, Michael Martin, his son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Mary Schnyer, his daughter and son-in-law, Arlene and Joseph Longo, all of Stephentown, and his daughter, Cathy Provenzano of Holbrook, MA, as well as six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He also leaves two sisters, a brother-in-law, a sister-in-law and many nieces and nephews in North Carolina.
Following Jim’s wishes, services were private on Friday, March 29, with burial and full military honors being held at the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, NY. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home of Stephentown.
Judith Bulson
Hoosick Falls – Judith “Judy” Bulson of 56 Wilder Avenue, Hoosick Falls, NY, died Thursday, March 14, 2013, at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT, following a long illness. Born in Hoosick Falls on July 24, 1944, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth and Alma (Loverre) Bulson. As a young girl she loved hanging out at her father’s business, Bulson Brothers Chevrolet, and she worked there for a while as a young adult.
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Kenneth L. Smith
Berlin – Kenneth L. Smith, 44, formerly of Valley View Apartments, died on Saturday evening, March 23, 2013, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy, NY, under the care of Community Hospice of Rensselaer County.
Born August 20, 1968, in Savannah, Georgia, he was the son of the late Russell Smith and Nancy Cassel Carr and the step-son of Charlie Carr of Petersburgh, NY. A life-long resident of the area, Ken was educated in Berlin schools. He served for 8 years in the United States Army Reserves. For most of his adult life, he was a self-employed carpenter. Ken was an avid NASCAR fan whose favorite driver was Matt Kenseth.
Survivors, besides his mother and step-father, include his wife, Lisa A. Corbin Smith, whom he married on August 29, 1999, in Petersburgh, a sister, Christine and husband Terry Sprague of Grafton, NY, and three nieces, C’Anna, Darien and Abigail.
Visitation and services are private with burial to take place at the Berlin Baptist Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Berlin Rescue Squad. Arrangements are under the guidance of the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home of Petersburgh.
Raymond C. Bornt
Hoosick Falls – Raymond C. Bornt, 77, of Woodbridge Apartments in Hoosick Falls, NY, died early Sunday morning, March 24, 2013, at his residence after being stricken. Born in Pittstown, NY, on November 25, 1935, he was the son of the late Milford C. and Ruth F. Bornt Sr.
Raised and educated in Raymertown, NY, Ray was a resident of Hoosick, NY, for over 40 years. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1958. Ray worked for over 40 years for Matzen Construction until he retired. He was an active member of the Hoosick Volunteer Fire Department and was an active hunter and fisherman. Ray was also an avid bowler for years at the Barbecue Recreation lanes. When he could no longer bowl, he was the “little cheerleader” for his friends.
Survivors include his children, Lori and husband Ralph Wyman and Mark Driscoll, all of Hoosick Falls, Frederick and wife Luisa Driscoll of Vicenza, Italy, Renee and Corey Bornt, his former wife and friend, Ramona Bornt, his sisters, Shirley Borter, Carolyn and husband Leo Surdam, Ruth and Emily (Robert) Bornt, his brothers, Harry, Kenneth and wife Anna and Ray and wife Shirley Bornt, his brother-in-law and best friend, Harvey Burdick Jr. of North Pownal, VT, and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. He is pre-deceased by his brothers, Milford, Carl, Robert and Paul Bornt.
Following Ray’s wishes, there will be no formal services or calling hours. Inurnment with full military honors will take place at a later date at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, NY. Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the Hoosick Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 100 South St., Hoosick, NY, 12089. Arrangements under the guidance of the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home of Petersburgh, NY.