Obituaries

ALBANY – Constance L. Curry, 87, of Colonie, died Monday, November 21, 2011 in the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital.  Mrs. Curry was born in Albany, the daughter of the late Herman and Loretta Durand Mendel.  A lifelong resident of Albany, she graduated from Vincentian Institute, class of 1942, and was employed by the New York Telephone Co. until...

SHARON SPRINGS, NY – Willis Stryker Conard, 77, passed on peacefully at Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, NY on Nov. 12, 2011, after a valiant battle with prostate cancer. Born Dec. 16, 1933, in Belle Mead, NJ, he was a son of the late Samuel L. and Mary Stryker Conard.  After meeting his life partner [beloved wife Patricia Martin] at the 1950...

GUILDERLAND – Robert T. (Powers) Littlejohn, 75, of Guilderland, died Thursday, November 10, 2011 at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady.  Mr. Littlejohn was born in Troy, where he lived until serving in the U.S. Airforce from 1955 until 1959.  He was a graduate of Alfred State College and the State University at Albany.  He served as a teacher for a time...

ALBANY – Edward J. Kenton, 91, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, after a brief battle with cancer.  Ed’s death followed that of his wife, Pasqualina (Pat) Kenton, who died on October 28th.  Ed is survived by his daughter Judith A. (Michael) Quinn; son Jeffrey P. Kenton; Beverly Kenton; grandchildren Leanne and Brian Kenton; and step-grandchildren Kathryn Borrelli and...

ALBANY – Pasqualina (Pat) Kenton died on Friday, October 28, 2011 after a brief battle with ALS. Pat is survived by her husband of 68 years, Edward J. Kenton; her children Judith A. (Michael) Quinn and Jeffrey P. Kenton; Beverly Kenton; grandchildren Leanne and Brian Kenton; her brother Mario Zandri, Jr and step-grandchildren Kathryn Borrelli and Sarah Osborne.

A Memorial...

ALBANY – Edward P Schissler, 59, passed away on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at St. Peters Hospital.  Edward is survived by his mother, Margaret, and his brother, Frank (Katherine), nephew David (Mary) and grand niece – MacKenzie and grand nephews – Connor and Drew.  His father Franklin, pre-deceased him. Edward also leaves behind his dear friends Paul Frederick and Joan...

MARTINDALE – Laimonis Betins, 93, of Martindale hamlet, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2011 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, New York.  His wife Milda and loving family were with him.  Laimonis was most recently a resident of Pinehaven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Philmont, NY.

Born January 28, 1918 in Eleja, Latvia he was the son of the...

ALBANY – John J. Avellino, 81, of Albany, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home during the early hours of Monday, October 10, 2011.  Mr. Avellino was born in Albany, and served as a corporal in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.  He was employed as a truck driver for many years, retiring from Peerless-Mohawk Liquor Distributors. ...

ALBANY – A gentleman and a scholar, Robert J. (Bob) Suozzo, husband of Dolores and dedicated father of nine children and many grandchildren, passed away peacefully at 1:50 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011. In his final days, Robert was surrounded by his loving family and friends.  Born in New York on August 5, 1923 of Italian immigrant parents, Saverio...

ALBANY – Jessie Catherine Doig Nicolson Murray died Sunday October 9, 2011 at the Loudonville Home for Adults surrounded by her loving family.  She was 92.  Mrs. Murray was born in Dundee, Scotland.  She was the daughter of the late Rev. William and Jessie Nicolson.  She was educated at Gillespie School for Girls in Edinburgh.  During World War II she...

ALBANY – Horace Francis “Breeze” Breedlove went to join his beloved son Christopher Hunter Breedlove on Friday, September 30, 2011.  Breeze was born in Albany, the son of the late Horace F. Breedlove and Margaret McDonald Breedlove.  He was a graduate of Vincentian Institute and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  He earned a B.S. degree in...

ALBANY – Zina A. Bursese Montana, 88, of Albany, died Saturday, October 1, 2011 at St. Peter’s Hospital.  Mrs. Montana was born in Amsterdam, but had lived in Albany since 1942.  She was a 1941 graduate of St. Mary’s Institute in Amsterdam, and attended New York University.  She was employed as a hematology lab technician at Albany Medical Center Hospital,...

DELMAR – Jennie M. Cady Bink Woltjen, 93, of Delmar, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Lutheran Health Care Center. She was born in Sloansville, NY, July 19, 1918. She was a lifetime member and volunteer of the Salvation Army, and worked primarily as a Governess for newborn children.

Mrs. Woltjen was predeceased...

GUILDERLAND – Bob, 80, passed Friday, September 30, 2011, at home peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his loving family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and good friend to many.

He was born on May 23, 1931 in Albany to Martin John and Frances Ethel Nichols. He graduated from Phillip Schuyler High School and attended Hudson Valley Community...

ALBANY – Julia Teresa Mannarino, 96, of Albany, died Monday, September 19, 2011 at the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center.  Mrs. Mannarino was born in Albany, the daughter of the late Rocco and Rosemary Tutino Pasqualino.  She was employed for a time as a seamstress, and for many years was a communicant of the former St. Margaret Mary’s Church in...

ALBANY – Barbara A. Wood, 65, of Albany, died Monday, September 12, 2011 in the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital.  Barbara was born in Albany and lived in the area all her life.  She was a 1964 graduate of Albany High School, and held positions at Sterling Winthrop in Rensselaer, Job Corps in Glenmont and the Bethlehem School District. ...

ALBANY – Priscilla (Jill) Shepard Belser passed away on Sunday, August 28th at her home in Albany, NY. Born August 12, 1943, in Xenia, Ohio, Jill was the oldest child of John and Suzanne Shepard. She spent most of her early life in California, moving to upstate New York with her family in 1960, graduating from Saratoga High School in...

ALBANY – Nicholas “Nick” Birchak, 27, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, August 24, 2011 due to complications from Epilepsy.  Nick was born in Grand Junction, Colorado and spent his lifetime spreading kindness, good will, and optimism in spite of his ongoing battles with epilepsy and visual impairments. Nick was a 2002 graduate of Shaker High School where he was Captain of...

COLONIE – Theresa A. Thomas, 88, died Friday, August 19, 2011 at St. Peters Hospital surrounded by loving friends. Tessie was born in Troy, NY, and lived in the area all of her life. The daughter of James and Mary Thomas; Tessie was also predeceased by her brother, James Thomas. Tessie retired from the NYS Labor Department where she made...

ALBANY – Helene Hans, 89, died Sunday, August 14, 2011 at home surrounded by her loving family. Helene was born and raised in Albany and lived in the same house all of her life. She was the daughter of James and Catherine Crowley.  Helene graduated from Vincentian Institute and received her BA from St. Lawrence Univ. and her Masters Degree...