Kenneth Sears, 68, highway boss, outdoorsman
CATSKILL—Kenneth E. Sears, 68, of Route 20, East Nassau died Friday, February 25 at the Pines of Catskill after a long illness.
Born in Canaan, August 14, 1942, he was the son of the late Edmund and Maude Sears.
He was the loving husband of the former Alberta R. Teal, whom he married in the Stephentown Center Church December 19, 1964.
A lifelong resident of the area, Mr. Sears attended East Nassau schools. In his younger years, he worked construction and was a logger. In the early 1980s, he was the highway superintendent for the Town of New Lebanon. He later worked for the Town of Nassau’s Highway Department. Mr. Sears was a member of the Nassau Rod and Gun Club. He liked to hunt, fish, camp and do woodworking. His greatest pleasure was picking on his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Alberta R. Sears; his children, Kenneth E. (Christine) Sears, Jr. of Averill Park, Wanda J. Sears of Dalton, MA, Denise H. (Carl) Schmidt of New Lebanon, Paul C. (Joyce) Sears of East Chatham; his siblings, Harriet Hassan and Edmund Sears both of East Chatham; and his grandchildren, Nicole Schmidt, Kaitlyn Sears, Kari Schmidt and Kenneth D. Sears.
There will be no public visitation or services. Cremation was held in Bennington, Vermont. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org). Arrangements were under the direction of Hall and Higgins Funeral Home of Stephentown.
Jane Chittenden, 89, raised Jerseys, traveled with husband
NEW LEBANON—Jane Fisher Chittenden, 89 of West Street died peacefully at home Friday, February 4 surrounded by her loving family under the care of Community Hospice of Columbia/Greene.
Born in Pittsfield, MA February 4, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Rudolph G. and Sardinia Hall Fisher.
Mrs. Chittenden moved from Spencertown with her family to New Lebanon where they owned and operated Fisher’s Store on the corner of West Street and Route 20. She was a 1940 graduate of New Lebanon Central School.
She married Stanley N. Chittenden October 13, 1940. From then until the 1990s they operated Fair Weather Farm in New Lebanon. They worked side by side raising high-producing Jersey cattle. Mr. and Mrs. Chittenden enjoyed traveling the US together attending Jersey meetings, sales and shows. They proudly proclaimed being in each of the 50 states. After her husband died September 19, 1995, Mrs. Chittenden had the nickname “Lady Fair Weather” bestowed upon her. She rarely missed a family function.
Mrs. Chittenden was a member of the American Jersey Cattle Association, NY Jersey Cattle Club, NE Jersey Cattle Club, New Lebanon Senior Citizens and the Ladies Guild of the Church of Our Saviour in New Lebanon. She was an avid knitter who enjoyed making sweaters for family and friends. She and her family also had a keen interest in horses. They were active with horse shows in the 1940s and 50s exhibiting their palominos. In the 1980s, the Chittenden’s fulfilled a longtime dream and bought a team of Percheron draft horses. They loved driving them in local parades. They were members of the Colonial Carriage Group in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
Mrs. Chittenden leaves four children: Barbara C. (J. Lawrence) Benson of New Lebanon, Paul C. Chittenden of Schodack Landing, Craig A. (Kathleen) Chittenden of Stephentown and Karl B. (Lorrie Wechter) Chittenden of New Lebanon; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by a son, Roger R. Chittenden who died July 8, 1958.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, March 6, 1:30 p.m. at the Church of Our Saviour (across from New Lebanon High School). A gathering for family and friends will follow the service in the church’s Fellowship Hall. Burial will be in the spring in the Cemetery of the Evergreens. Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of Our Saviour or the Cemetery of the Evergreens, c/o Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, P.O. Box 9, Stephentown 12168.
George Hosier, Jr., 69, lifelong area resident
VALATIE—George E. Hosier, Jr., 69, of East Ancram Road, Ancramdale passed away Friday, February 25, 2011 at Barnwell Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
He was born August 18, 1941 in Sharon, CT, the son of George E. and Marian (Butler) Hosier, Sr.
A lifelong area resident, he was previously employed by ARA Services at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, CT.
He is survived by his son, Harold Hosier of Ancramdale, along with a grandson, Harold Hosier, Jr.
Private services will be at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements are with the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, Copake. To send an online condolence visit www.peckandpeck.net.
