Obituaries

ALBANY – Ann Elizabeth Barber, 84, of Albany, passed away on Monday, October 25, 2021, at Shaker Place Rehab & Nursing Center.  Ann was born in Albany, the daughter of the late Edward Bardon and Cora Colville Bardon.  She lived here all her life.  She served as a child care provider for many years, including years at the Center for...

ALTAMONT – John Francis Walkuski, 85, died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at his home in Altamont, NY.  Although John suffered for years with Alzheimer’s Disease, he knew his family and caregivers to the end. He continued  to smile and had a light in his eyes though he no longer could speak. He knew he was...

ALBANY –Frederike “Fritzi” S. Barker, 92, passed away on Sunday, October 17, 2021 at Albany Medical Center Hospital.  Frederike was born in Graz, Austria.  She attended college in Vienna Austria for English.  She emigrated to the United States in her early twenties, and attended New Jersey State College in Glassboro, NJ and received a masters degree.  She  lived in Albany...

BALLSTON SPA – Carole-Ann Annis passed away on Saturday, October 16, 2021 in Ballston Spa, NY. She and her husband moved to Ballston Spa, NY from Maine in 2008 to be near their sons and grandchildren. She and her husband lived in Rockport, Maine for 30 years prior. Her loved ones will miss her famous lobster rolls and clam dip,...

ALBANY – Sylvester Filippo “Syl” Battaglia passed away on Tuesday, October 12, 2021.  He was born on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1952, the beloved son of Patricia Hunter Standish and Philip S. Battaglia.  He graduated from the Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania and the University of South Florida.  He followed his father and grandfather in the family’s wholesale...

OCALA, FL – Judy Orbesen Mielenz, 64 of Ocala, FL, passed away suddenly at her home Sunday, September 26, 2021. Judy was born and raised in Barrington, IL, the daughter of Margaret H. Orbesen and the late Robert L. Orbesen. Judy was the owner of Judy’s Tack Shop that she established in 1982 and resided for many years in Germantown,...

CHARLTON – Mary E. Holbrook of Charlton, NY, passed into the tender arms of our Lord on Saturday, October 2, 2021, at home surrounded by her loving family, four-year-old rottweiler Hulk, precious and sweet (but sometimes a handful) puppy Brook, two cats, and a rabbit.

Mary was born on November 28, 1944, in Little Falls, NY spending her formative years...

ALBANY – Frank T. Hammer, 76, of Avila Retirement Community, passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 1st, 2021.  Born in Gulfport, Mississippi on July 3rd, 1945, he graduated from Florida State University and received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Michigan.  He lived most of his adult life in Chelsea, Michigan working as an environmental toxicologist...

SCOTIA – Marjorie Ellen “Midge” Johnson was called home to the loving arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, September 21, 2021.

Marjorie was born in Everett, MA on May 14, 1922 to H. Martin and Ruth Johnson, and lived most of her life in Scotia, NY. She was a graduate of Scotia High School and Trinity...

SCHENECTADY – Anne M. Diedrich 96, of Schenectady, NY passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, eight years to the day of her husband’s passing.

She was born in 1925 to the late Archie and May Miller in Mount Pleasant, PA. They relocated to the Buffalo, NY area in the early 1930’s where she grew up and attended school....

STEPHENTOWN – David Michael Hart of Stephentown passed away peacefully in his home on August 27, 2021 with his wife by his side after a courageous and challenging battle with brain cancer. He fought to the end with hope, humor, and determination.

Born in Hudson, he was the son of Raymond J. Hart and Jean (Pfeil) Rustick. He spent his...

DELMAR – Paul M. Thomas, 73, of Delmar, passed away on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at St. Peter’s Hospice.  Paul was born in Albany, the son of the late Herbert J. and Hazel E. Martin Thomas.  He lived most of his life in Albany and Delmar, but during the 1980s lived with his family in Peru, NY.  He was a...

GUILDERLAND – Lillian Mae Bellinger came into this world on September 22, 1929, and left it the same day, 92 years later.  Born in Berne to Aaron and Dora Deitz Warner, Lillian grew up on a working farm with her sister, Helen, and twin brothers Francis and Frank.  When Lillian was a teenager, she took a job at the New...

CLIFTON PARK – Sophie C. Pruskowski, 99, of Clifton Park, formerly of Guilderland, passed away peacefully with her daughter and her daughter’s longtime companion at her side on Friday, September 10, 2021.  Sophie was born and raised in Schenectady, the daughter of the late Stanley Stomski and Frances Szul Stomski.  She worked for a number of years on her parents’...

ALBANY — John J Flanagan, 81, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., passed away on Saturday, August 28, 2021 after a short illness.

John was born in 1940 in Albany, N.Y. to the late Patrick and Alice (Gannon) Flanagan, both of County Roscommon, Ireland. He was predeceased by his two sisters, Anna Marie Keller and Alice Patricia Flanagan.

John is survived...

Albany – George H. McGrath, 80, died Saturday, September 4, 2021, with his loving family by his side. George was born in Union City, NJ and moved to Albany in 2012. George proudly served in the US Army.

George found happiness in his deep faith in God, his loving devotion to family, and sharing a warm smile with everyone he...

ALBANY – Ellen L. McKeon, 73, of Albany, passed away on Thursday, September 2, 2021.  Ellen was born and raised in Albany, the daughter of the late M. Joseph McKeon and Helen K. Leary McKeon.  She was a graduate of St. Teresa of Avila School, Vincentian Institute, and the College of St. Rose.  She also earned master’s degrees at both...

ALBANY – Francis J. Sgambelluri passed away peacefully with his son and daughter by his side at the Shaker Point Nursing Facility in Colonie, NY on Saturday, August 28th, 2021.  Francis was a WWII Vet and fought in Europe with the Third Army under General Patton.  Upon honorable discharge he went to work at House of Montaque in Albany, learning...