Eleanor Nehls
September 27, 2009
PATTERSONVILLE, NY– Eleanor (Ellie) Nehls age 52, went back into the loving arms of her mother and father on Saturday, September 26, 2009. Born in Albany, NY on May 22, 1957, she was the daughter of the late Erich (Sr.) and Clara (Cyeklewski) Nehls. She was a resident of the Schenectady ARC group home in Pattersonville, NY.
Survivors include her brother Erich W. Nehls Jr. and his wife Eileen of Nassau, NY and her nephew Erich E. Nehls of Milwaukee, WI, niece Lori Nickerson, and grand-niece Julia Nickerson, both of Framingham, MA.
Ellie enjoyed traveling on group trips and spending time with her friends at the Princeton Ridge Day Program. She also enjoyed being pampered with hair coiffing and manicures. She volunteered for the Salvation Army as a bell ringer during the holidays and also was a member of an area bible church.
The family would like to thank the entire staff at the group home in Pattersonville, NY who took such loving care of Ellie each day.
Services will be held Tuesday at 6:30 PM at the Hans Funeral Home 1088 Western Ave., Albany. Calling hours will precede the service from 5:00 until 6:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Center for Disability Services, 314 South Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208.
To leave a message of condolence for the family or addresses of the above charities, or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit
www.HansFuneralHome.com . Online donations can be made at: https://www.cfdsny.org/donation.aspx
Grace (Savoca) Burke
September 26, 2009
COLONIE Grace D. Burke, 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving daughters on Thursday, September 24, 2009. Born in Albany on June 6, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Sebastian and Carmela (Malatino) Savoca. She was predeceased by her husband Edmund P. Burke Jr.; sister, Josephine Jablons; and brother, William Savoca. Grace cherished her family and friends, and especially enjoyed her summers at Lake George. She was a licensed real estate agent for many years, a member of the Albany County Board of Realtors, a parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy Church and a member of the Ladies of Charity. Grace is survived by her five daughters, Kathy (Lonnie) Ford of Saranac Lake, Patricia “Pudi” (Joseph) Murray of Guilderland, Cindy Burke of Colonie, Helen (Hal) LaFontaine of Colonie, and Kimberly (Tim) Frederick of Knox. She was “GiGi” to Devon and Kyle Ford, Erin Murray, Megan (Joe) Aloisio, Christopher (Kate) LaFontaine, Courtney and Timmy Frederick; great-grandmother to Amelia La-Fontaine and Madeline Aloisio. The family extends their gratitude to the staff at the Teresian House for their compassion and excellent care. Funeral services will be held 9:30 a.m. Monday, September 28 at Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., St. Catherine of Siena Church. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Sunday, September 27, 3-7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Assoc. of NENY, 85 Watervliet Ave., Albany, or the Teresian House Foundation, 200 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany. To leave a message of condolence for the family or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com .
Mary B. Havern
September 13, 2009
ALBANY – Mary Rose Burke Havern, 91, of Slingerlands, died Saturday, September 12, 2009 at Albany Memorial Hospital surrounded by her family. Mrs. Havern was born in Troy, the daughter of Patrick and Rose Raleigh Burke. She was a graduate of Catholic Central High School in Troy and was awarded a full academic scholarship to the College of St. Rose. She went on to earn four master’s degrees in elementary education, guidance, psychology and school administration, and was a state-certified education psychologist. During World War II she worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a psychometrist evaluating civilians for jobs left vacant by men serving in World War II. She also was employed for many years by the Albany City School District as an elementary school teacher, an evaluator of special needs children, and as Director of Research and Psychology Services. Inspired by her late daughter Kathleen’s autism, she established a scholarship at the College of St. Rose for students studying Special Education, and dedicated herself to improving the lives of people with disabilities. She was a volunteer with and board member of Rehabilitation Support Services of Albany, and was instrumental in bringing some of the first special needs housing to the Capital District. In June of 2000, she was given the Distinguished Alumni Award by the College of St. Rose, where she was also an active member of the college alumni association, and in 2006 the college awarded her the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2003, she was also given the Senior Lifetime Achievement Award by the Capital District Senior Issues Forum, and she was active on the board of the STARS Association (promoting contact between seniors and students with special needs) until her mid-80’s. She also was a communicant and member of the Rosary Society of Holy Cross Church, and a member of the City Club of Albany, and the Delta Kappa Gamma Society.
Mrs. Havern was predeceased by her husband John D. Havern, and her daughter Kathleen Frances Havern. She is survived by her children Patricia Havern Windelspecht (Robert) of Plymouth, MA, Michael Havern (Gwen) of Palo Alto, CA , and Mary Rose McCaughey (Kim) of McKownville; her brothers John Burke (Joan) of Rochester and Joseph Burke (Mary Jane) of Troy; her grandchildren Katie Windelspecht McLaughlin (Sean), Patrick Havern, Sarah Cabrera (Aaron), Abigail Havern, Melissa and Bridget McCaughey; her great grandchildren Bryce, Charlie and Jack McLaughlin, and Diego Cabrera; and by many nieces, nephews and beloved friends. She was also predeceased by her brothers James and William Burke, and her sister Ann O’Neill.
A gathering to remember and celebrate Mary’s life will be held Wednesday morning at 10:30 in St. Vincent DePaul Church, Madison Ave. & Partridge St., Albany, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany, today from 4-7 p.m. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery, Cohoes. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kathleen Havern Memorial Scholarship, c/o The College of Saint Rose, 432 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12203 or online at www.strose.edu . To leave a message of condolence for the family, view or print a prayer card, or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.
Clinton C. Lawry, Jr.
September 6, 2009
Schenectady – Clinton C. Lawry, Jr., 92, of Schenectady went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, September 4, 2009 after a long illness. He was born July 26, 1917 in Somerville, MA to Clinton C. Lawry and Meta Eisenhauer Lawry. He grew up in Dedham, MA and graduated from Dedham High School in 1935. He received BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 1940. Upon graduation, he came to work in Schenectady and completed GE’s A, B & C courses in the Advanced Engineering Program. His work involved application of radar to anti-aircraft gunnery, and servo-mechanisms, which led to 3 US patents. He received the very distinguished GE Coffin Award for his effort in the development of an integrated electronic control for aircraft jet engines. He was later assigned to Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, where he worked on nuclear reactor control and safety systems. He retired in 1981. Clinton and his late wife Faith were both active in the life of First Presbyterian Church of Schenectady. Clinton served as a deacon, elder, and then as member of the Board of Trustees. He served as a teacher and superintendent of the Sunday School program, and organized a Sunday School bus ministry. He was a member of the GE Quarter Century Club, the Schenectady County Historical Society, and the Elfun Society, where he worked on tape recorder repairs for the blind.
He was predeceased by his wife, Faith Hopkins, in May 2003. The two married on August 23, 1941 in Melrose, MA and had 62 wonderful years together. They were blessed with five sons, who in turn brought into the family five daughters-in-love, fifteen grandchildren (one who is with the Lord), and fifteen great-grandchildren. He is survived by David H. Lawry (Brenda) of Fountain, CO; Clinton C. Lawry, III (Connie) of Claremont, NH; Randall A. Lawry (Cheryl) of Tomball, TX; and Mark H. Lawry (Bev) of Milford, OH. His son Paul O. Lawry predeceased him in 1992. Paul’s wife, Nancy, married Douglas Bodenstab of Glenville, who in many ways was like a son to him.
The family would like to thank Dr. Arthur Lee, Dr. George Vassolas, and Dr. Reilly for their compassionate care. They would also like to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Kingsway Nursing Center, who treated Clinton like family and subsequently became part of our family.
Clinton donated his body to the anatomical gift program at Albany Medical College. A service in celebration of his life will be held at the convenience of the family at a later date, which will be published. Memorial contributions may be made to HCJB World Radio, P.O. Box 39800, Colorado Springs, CO 80949-9800, in memory of Clinton C. Lawry Jr. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.