Obituaries

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...

ALBANY – Anna Marie Sgambelluri, 88, of Albany, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at St. Peter’s Hospital with her family by her side.  Anna was born in Albany, the daughter of the late Angelo and Paula Spagnola Maniscalco.  She lived here all her life, and was employed by the Paramount Lounge (family-owned) in Schenectady for 25 years...

ALBANY – Salvatore L. Raso, 82, of Albany, died Saturday, November 29, 2014 at St. Peter’s Hospital, surrounded by his loving family after a long illness.  Salvatore was born and raised in Cinquefronde, Reggio Calabria, Italy to the late Francesco and Teresa Ascone Raso.  He served in the Italian Army for a time.  After emigrating to the U.S., he was...

GUILDERLAND – Charles E. Ebel, 95, of Guilderland, passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at Albany Medical Center Hospital.  Charles was born in Guilderland, and lived in Albany and Guilderland all his life.  He attended Altamont High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1940, serving through the duration of World War II until discharged in 1946.  He served aboard...

ALBANY – Marjorie Uhl Scilipote, 92, of Albany, passed away peacefully at home on November 22, 2014, surrounded by her family.

Daughter of the late Frederick and Verna Uhl, Marge was born and raised in Altamont.  She graduated from Altamont High School and worked briefly for Sterling Winthrop in Rensselaer.  She was a well-known area artist.  When her youngest child...

DELMAR – Rose Mary Slavin died on Tuesday, November 18, 2014, at the Good Samaritan Lutheran Health Care Center in Delmar.  Rose Mary was the daughter of the late Matthew J. Slavin and Helen M. Nash Slavin.  She grew up in Troy and graduated from St. Peter’s Academy and Catholic Central High School, class of 1941.

Rose was a graduate...