Obituaries

DELMAR – Ruth L. Zell, 85, passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2015 at St. Peter’s Hospital.  Ruth was born in Albany, the daughter of the late Francis J. Zell and Ruth M. deSeve Zell.  She was a graduate of Vincentian Institute in Albany, and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.  Ruth was employed by Brooks Fashion...

SCHENECTADY – Jeremiah P. Healy died on Thursday, February 12, 2015, at home. A native of Buffalo, he moved to Albany in the 1960s and became a master architect in the New York State Office of General Services. Many of his residential and commercial designs can be found in Saratoga and Albany including the historical redesign of the Canfield Casino...

ALBANY – Edward Ryan, 93, of Albany, passed away on Monday, February 16, 2015 at the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center.  Ed was born in Albany, and lived here all his life.  He served in the U.S. Navy beginning in 1939 and through World War II.  He was a graduate of the University of Illinois, and worked for many years...

GUILDERLAND – Joseph E. Keil, 78, of Guilderland, passed away on Thursday, February 12, 2015. He was born in Albany, and lived in the area all his life. He was employed for many years by the former City and County Savings Bank, and later by Trustco Bank.

Mr. Keil was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Prindle Keil, in 2009. He...

COLONIE – Emma M. Saboda, 95, of Colonie, passed away on Wednesday February 11, 2015 at Albany Memorial Hospital.  Emma was born in Nazareth, PA, the daughter of the late Paul and Mary Ritza Saboda.  She lived in Brooklyn for 75 years before moving to the Albany area in 2004.  She was employed as a Licensed Practical Nurse for many...

ALBANY – Mary R. Santa Maria, 91, of Albany, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 7, 2015 in the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital.  Known to many as Aunt Mary or Aunt Mame, Mary was born in Albany on May 30, 1923, the daughter of the late Salvatore and Carmela Santa Maria.  She worked for over 60 years at...

ROME, NY – Ethel M. Skavina, 92, of Rome, New York, passed away peacefully with her children and extended family by her side on Sunday, February 1,2015, under the care of The Hospice of East Texas in Tyler, TX.  Born in Albany May 12, 1922, she was the daughter of Harry J. and Marie R. Smith.  Ethel graduated from Vincentian...

CLIFTON PARK – Claire Elizabeth Canavan, 62, of Clifton Park, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2015.  Claire was recently diagnosed with an aggressive melanoma and despite her impassioned fight she passed away with her family by her side at the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital.  Claire was born as Claire Harris in Elizabeth, NJ, the daughter of the...

ALBANY – Isabel Galea Bussey, 96, of Albany, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at St. Peter’s Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.  Isabel was born in Albany to Joseph and Mary Audino Galea and was a lifelong resident.  A graduate of St. James School and the Cathedral Academy, she was employed by the John G. Myers Company, and for many...

MECHANICVILLE – Frank J. Harper, 65, died on Friday, January 23, 2015, at St. Peter’s Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Frank was born in Albany and lived in the area all his life. He worked for Troy Boiler Works and was part of the boilermakers union for 47 years. Frank enjoyed supporting his son’s auto racing at Lebanon Valley...

ALBANY – Evan Leighton Richards, 86, died Sunday, January 25, 2015.  Born in Schenectady, he was a graduate of Nott Terrace High School and Union College, and was an Army veteran.  Evan was a reporter, feature writer and columnist for The Knickerbocker News and a legislative correspondent.  He later was employed by several New York State agencies, retiring from the...

COLONIE – Lucille A. Bradley, 83 passed away peacefully at her home on January 15, 2015.  She was born in Hoosick Falls on December 7, 1931. Her parents were the late Charlotte Welling Oliver and Augustus Oliver.  She was married to the late James V. Bradley on November 8, 1952. They raised their 5 children in Troy where she remained...

GUILDERLAND – Donald J. Moore, Sr., beloved father, grandfather and uncle died peacefully on Saturday, January 10, 2015. Don was born in Waterford, NY on September 21, 1925 to Thomas and Mamie Moore.  He was a proud veteran of WWII, serving in the 1269th Engineer Combat Battalion. He maintained close ties with his army buddies throughout his life. He was...

ALBANY – Bessie Padula Pezzula, 96, of Albany, passed away on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, Guilderland.  Bessie was born in Albany, the daughter of the late Bartolomeo and Leonarda Matera Padula.  She was employed as a supervisor by the New York State Office of General Services at the Alfred E. Smith building for...

GUILDERLAND – Carol (VanDenberg) Cleveland, 62, of Guilderland, passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer.  Carol was born in Albany, and lived in the area all her life.  She was a graduate of Guilderland High School, a social member of the North Bethlehem Fire Dept., and a member of the Christ...

ALBANY – Marjorie T. Rogan Maney of Albany, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 5, 2015 in the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital.  Marjorie was born in Albany, the daughter of the late Hon. Edward G. Rogan and Margaret Shafer Rogan.  She lived here all her life, and was a graduate of the Kenwood Academy of the Sacred Heart,...

ALBANY – James A. “Jimmy” Rocco, 63, passed away peacefully with his beloved family by his side on Friday, January 2, 2015 in the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital.  Jimmy was born in Albany, and lived here all his life.  He was a graduate of Vincentian Institute, Class of 1969, and served in the U.S. Army Reserves.  Jimmy’s life...

SLINGERLANDS – Mildred M. Constant, 95, of Marie Rose Manor, Slingerlands, died peacefully on Sunday, December 28, 2014, at Albany Memorial Hospital.  Mildred was born on March 5, 1919 to Marion and Robert Decker. She is survived by her daughters Arlene Sofia  (Larry), Karen Gatto (Sam), and Sylinda Reed; her grandchildren Michael Sofia, Christopher Sofia, Anthony Gatto, Kelly Lynn, and...

GUILDERLAND – Joseph J. Valek, 67, died suddenly Monday, Dec. 15, 2014 at his home.  He was born in Albany, the son of  the late Joseph W. and Mary Malatesta Valek.  He was a 1965 graduate of Cardinal McCloskey High School, and served in the U.S. Air Force for four years. He earned a degree from HVCC in Criminal Justice,...

McKOWNVILLE – James J. Barber, 90, of McKownville, passed away on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.  James was born in Albany, the son of the late Charles N. and Mary F. McDonald Barber.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and was a 1950 graduate of Siena College.  He was a school teacher at Philip Schuyler High School...