Obituaries

SCHENECTADY – Herbert A. Bennett, 85, of Schenectady passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at his home with his family by his side.  Mr. Bennett was born in Brooklyn, the son of the late Able Bennett and Dorothy Schmidt Bennett.  He had lived in Schenectady since the early 1960’s.

Mr. Bennett is survived by his nieces Dorothy J. Posluszny...

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Therese Cresser, 84, of Saratoga Springs passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2013.  Born in Brooklyn on January 15, 1929, she graduated from Brooklyn High School.  She also attended Business College. Therese worked for the Brentwood School District, and was later employed by SUNY Albany.  She and husband Arnold Cresser  raised their family in Brentwood, Long Island,...

ALBANY – Barbara E. Hopfenspirger entered Eternal Life on Wednesday, October 16, 2013, surrounded by loved ones, after a full life of service to God, teachers and children of Albany.  Barbara served as a Maryknoll Sister in Japan and Hong Kong.  She then came to Albany to work in the Albany City School District, first as a teacher, then as...

SCHENECTADY – Paul Joseph Steenburg, 61 years old, lost his battle with cancer and went into eternal rest to be with the lord on Tuesday, Oct. 8th, with his brothers and sisters by his side.  Paul was born  in Gloversville on Sept. 30th 1952.  He was the Son of the late Clarence L. and Helen M. (Bennett) Steenburg.  He attended...

ALBANY – Ruth Mesick, 97, of Voorheesville died peacefully on September 20, 2013.  Ruth was born December 9, 1915 in Milwaukee Wisconsin. She traveled here to New York after graduating from high school. She had been residing at the Teresian House in Albany.  Ruth and her husband William Mesick moved to Brooklyn while her husband was on active duty during...

ALBANY –  Vincenzo B. Commisso, 86, of Albany, NY, surrounded by his loving family, passed away on October 2, 2013 at St. Peter’s Community Hospice Inn after a brief illness.  Vincenzo was born on May 16, 1927 in Siderno Marina, Italy to the late Theresa and Raffaele Commisso.  He married his beloved wife Concetta with whom he would have celebrated...

GUILDERLAND – James T. Sumner, 87, of Westmere, passed away Saturday, September 28, 2013 at Albany Memorial Hospital. Mr. Sumner was born in Spartansburg, SC, but lived most of his life in Guilderland.  He served as a radio operator in the Army Air Forces during World War II in the Pacific, and was a graduate of Spartansburg Junior College.  He...

ALBANY – Margaret M. Rothaupt, 85, of Albany, passed away Saturday, September 21, 2013 at St. Peter’s Hospital.  Mrs. Rothaupt was employed for many years by Peter’s Restaurant in Albany, and by Fleet Bank.  She also was a communicant of All Saints Catholic Church and the former St. Margaret Mary’s Church.  She also enjoyed watching old movies, dining out, and...

ALBANY –    Leonard R. Fox, Jr., 60, of Albany, passed away Monday, September 16, 2013 at St. Peter’s Hospital.  Lenny was born in Albany, and lived here all his life.  He was a graduate of Cardinal McCloskey High School, and served in the U.S. Navy from 1971-1975 including service aboard the USS Donald B. Beary DE-1085.  He was employed by...

GUILDERLAND – Edith Bender Gerhardt (September 14, 1922 to September 7, 2013), beloved mother and wife of 69 years to Rev. Arthur H. Gerhardt was called to her heavenly home.

Edith was a remarkable woman of faith and a devoted servant of the Lord. In service to the Lord, working side by side with her beloved husband, she was a...

ALTAMONT  – Jeanne M. Stewart, 60, of Altamont, passed away Friday, September 6, 2013 at Samaritan Hospital in Troy after a long courageous battle with early onset Alzheimer’s.  Jeanne was born in Albany, the daughter of the late Bernard and Helen Vincent Polinsky, and she lived in the area all her life.  She was a graduate of Vincentian Institute in...

ALBANY – Mary Rita Pagano, 92, was born into Eternal Life on Saturday, August 31, 2013 in the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital surrounded by her loving family.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend and will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Mary Rita enjoyed listening to her music, chatting with friends,...

ALBANY – Patsy A. Biance, 96, died peacefully in the comfort of his home on Monday, August 26, 2013.  Patsy was born in Albany and lived here all his life.  He was employed for many years as a boilermaker for the New York Central Railroad at the West Albany Shops.  He also was a highly skilled welder, and continued his...

ALBANY – On Friday, August 23, 2013, Herb Bohl , cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend passed away peacefully at Community Hospice of Albany at Albany Memorial Hospital after a valiant battle with cancer.  Born on January 7, 1929, in Albany to the late August C. Bohl and Gertrude Vanderhouten,  Herbert J. Bohl grew up with 12 brothers...

ALBANY – Much loved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great uncle, friend, and neighbor, George R. Wiley, 85, of Albany, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital.  George was born in Albany, the son of the late Joseph G. and Mildred Wiley.  He lived here all his life and was referred to...

ALBANY – Clara Rita Armstrong, 81, of Albany, Thompson’s Lake and Cocoa Florida, died unexpectedly on July 15, 2013 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, New York.  Mrs. Armstrong was born and raised in Buffalo, NY.  She was the daughter of the late Frank and Veronika (Matuszewski) Piskorski.

Clara attended St. Stanislaus Elementary School, Villa Maria High School and graduated...

CLIFTON PARK –  Jean Elizabeth Rettie, 81, of Clifton Park, died on July 2, 2013.  Born in Mt. Kisco, New York, she was the daughter of the late Samuel Rettie of Aberdeen, Scotland and Jennie Nelson Rettie of Yonkers, New York.  She graduated from Pleasantville High School and the State University of New York at Geneseo and received her Master’s...