Margaret Delaney, 87, retired from New York Telephone
GHENT—Margaret (Coll) Delaney, 87, of Hudson went home to the lord Friday October 28 at the Whittier Nursing Home in Ghent after a long illness. She was surrounded by her loving family.
Mrs. Delaney was born in Hudson, January 25, 1924 to James and Anna (Cannon) Coll.
She graduated from Hudson High School. After World War II, she met and married Bartholomew F. Delaney Sr., also of Hudson, in February 1947. Mrs. Delaney worked for and retired from the New York Telephone Company holding various positions in Hudson, Catskill, Kingston and Albany.
She was a life member of the Communications Workers of America.
Mrs. Delaney loved having family and friends over on the weekends and greatly enjoyed the trips she and her husband took with their close friends. Her grandchildren always enjoyed sleepovers at her house as she would always make something special for them.
She was pre-deceased by her beloved husband, Bartholomew F. Delaney, Sr. in 1991.
She is survived by: children, Bart (wife Marilyn), James (wife Linda) and Maureen (husband David Ryder); grandchildren, Bart J. and Sean P. Delaney, James M. Delaney Jr., Patrick and (Valerie) Delaney, Joshua and Heather Ryder; great-grandchildren, Jackson, Jameson, Madeline, Jenna and Sean as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was a loving and dedicated wife and mother and was also pre-deceased by two brothers, James J. and John Coll.
A Mass of Christian Burial took place October 31 at St. Mary’s Church, 429 East Allen Street, Hudson with Fr. Winston Bath officiating. Burial was in Cedar Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice of Columbia-Greene 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12414 or St. Mary’s Church, P.O. Box 323, Hudson 12534.
Arrangements were with the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport.
Paul Raihofer, 66, builder, chef, village trustee
VALATIE—Paul L. Raihofer, 66, died peacefully in his sleep Thursday morning, October 27.
Of German decent, Mr. Raihofer loved life and lived it to its fullest. A man of simplicity and intellect, he cherished conversation, family, friends and great food. His personality was uplifting. He made strenuous situations light, believing the true purpose of life was to experience all the world had to offer.
Mr. Raihofer grew up in Nyack. He attended Paul Smiths College, where he earned a culinary degree. He later studied finance at Farleigh Dickenson University. He taught at a school for troubled girls in Westchester.
He later lived in Lake Placid with wife, April. They eventually separated. It was in the Adirondacks where Mr. Raihofer created many of his greatest memories. Owner of a popular bar, Freddie’s Inn, he hosted many acts which later became national legends, including George Thorogood.
Mr. Raihofer served as president of the Lake Placid Bobsled Team.
A builder by trade, Mr. Raihofer had a true sense of style and a keen eye for detail. His work was appreciated for its traditional origins and can be seen throughout northern Columbia County and Albany.
A founder of the movement to revitalize Valatie, Mr. Raihofer built his home from the remnants of an old bike shop at the edge of the Kinderhook Creek. His ability to see and create something beautiful and simple from what others tossed aside was his everlasting gift to the world.
He moved to Columbia County in 1981 with his daughter Heidi. He loved Valatie, appreciating its Dutch origin and location on the banks of the Kinderhook Creek. He was elected as a village trustee in 1998 by write-in vote and became a true architect of the village’s renaissance.
His ideas were implemented during his time on the Village Board, a position he held until his passing. In 1999, it was at Mr. Raihofer’s urging that Jason Nastke run for mayor of Valatie. Mr. Nastke became the youngest mayor in America.
A free spirit, Mr. Raihofer lived easy and cherished good times. Simply put, he was a great guy, beloved by family and the community. He often told many great stories of his full life. A wonderful chef, it was always a delicious treat to be invited by him to dinner. He loved to garden and many of his meals were prepared fresh from items he grew. He understood food and despised the modern fast-food pre-prepared movement.
Mr. Raihofer loved Martha’s Vineyard, the home of his daughter. He spent a good portion of each summer taking in the peacefulness of the ocean with his girlfriend and best friend, Leslie and her granddaughter, Taylor.
Mr. Raihofer is survived by his daughter Heidi and her husband, Joe Leonardo of Martha’s Vineyard, MA; his girlfriend, Leslie Senecal; sister, Mary Raihofer, and brothers, Peter and David of North Chatham. He is also survived by the community who loved him, Valatie.
Calling hours were October 29 at the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Route 9, Valatie.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.
Judith Wear, 72, nurse, cake decorator
PITTSFIELD, MA—Judith A. Wear, a lifelong resident of Canaan, passed away October 26, 2011, at Hillcrest Commons.
She was born November 23, 1938, the daughter of the late Eugene W. and Margaret L. Casey Walker.
Mrs. Wear was a graduate of New Lebanon High School and Albany Medical Center School of Nursing. She loved to sew and quilt, was an accomplished cake decorator, enjoyed her time with the Canaan Seniors and was very active in her church. She was a longtime member of the Canaan Protective Fire Company, the Ladies Auxiliary and the Chatham Rescue Squad.
She is survived by: her daughter, Susan (William) Bagnall; her son, Timothy (Susan) Wear; her four grandchildren, Erin, Casey and Molly Bagnall and Tracy Wear; and her brother, Philip Walker of FL.
She was predeceased by her husband, Robert P. Wear and brother, Eugene Walker.
A mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday, October 29 at the Immaculate Conception Church in New Lebanon. Interment followed at the Canaan Cemetery. Arrangements were with the French, Gifford, Preiter and Blasl Funeral Home, Chatham.
Memorial donations may be made to Hope Lodge, 237 East Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401, or to Coarc, P.O. Box 2, 630 Route 217, Mellenville 12544. For directions or to send an online condolence visit www.frenchblasl.com.
Jeannette Schertel, 83, member of church and ladies auxiliary
VALATIE—Jeannette Schertel, (nee Boyle), 83, of Valatie, formerly of Ramsey, NJ for 40 years, passed away peacefully October 24, 2011.
She was the daughter of the late Robert and Louise Boyle, founders of the West New York Assembly.
She was the beloved wife of the late John E. Schertel; loving mother of John R. (Jack) Schertel and wife Deborah, Alice L. Mashig and husband Werner, Lorraine J. Schertel, Lawrence E. Schertel and wife Christianne and Peter T. Schertel and wife Adele; adored grandmother of 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; dear sister of the late Alice Carlson and Josephine Leggio and late brothers Frank and Joseph McWilliams.
She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Schertel was a member of the New Life Assembly of God Church and a life member of the Ramsey Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Amore Chapter #176 and also served the community on the Ramsey Board of Elections.
She started her career with Theurer Agency Inc. in New York City. She then worked many years at the Ramsey Dairy Queen and then at Peter’s Florist until her retirement. Mrs. Schertel served her family, friends and community as a woman of prayer.
A funeral service was conducted Sunday, October 30, 2011 at the Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home, 109 Darlington Avenue, Ramsey. Interment was at Crest Haven Memorial Park in Clifton, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Life Assembly of God Church, 292 Hays Road, East Greenbush 12061 or the Ghent Reformed Church, 1039 County Route 22, Ghent 12075. Send tributes, memories and condolences at www.vanemburghsneider.com.
Dr. Norman Freinberg, 91, dentist, WWII vet
ALBANY—Dr. Norman “Doc” Freinberg of Valatie passed away Thursday October 27, 2011 at Albany Medical Center, following complications from a fall. He was surrounded by his loving family.
Dr. Freinberg met recent medical challenges with the same courage and tenacity that sustained him through his 91 years.
Born June 22, 1920 in Waterbury CT, the son of Harry Freinberg and Jennie Heyman Freinberg, he spent his youth in Hudson until the family moved to New Jersey in 1933.
He earned his DDS degree from the University of Illinois in 1944 and served in France during World War II. During his service, he pioneered new surgical bone transplant techniques to help injured soldiers.
After the war, he returned to Fort Dix where he met and married the love of his life, Geraldine “Jerrie” Moshou Freinberg, who survives him. They were married in 1947 and enjoyed 64 wonderful years together. They often told each other, “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” They moved to Valatie in 1948 and loved the village and its people. Dr. Freinberg served the community in many ways, as village dentist, trustee, deputy mayor, a member of the Santa Claus Club and friend to many.
He was pre-deceased by his beloved sisters Charlotte and Hannah and his beloved brother Herb.
In addition to his wife, Jerrie, Dr. Freinberg is also survived by: six children, Margo Potrzeba (husband Bob), David Freinberg, Mark Freinberg (wife Chris), Debbie Freinberg (husband Lou), Abby Freinberg and Amy Freinberg-Trufas (husband Cristi); seven grandchildren, Erica, Jake, Luke, Andrew, Scott, Steven and Levi; two great-grandchildren, Evie and Carly and several beloved nieces and nephews.
Dr. Freinberg will be remembered for his enormous heart, his generous spirit, his zest for life, his keen intellect, and his great love for family, friends and community. He savored every moment of his 91 years.
Services were held Friday October 28, 2011 at Bates and Anderson Funeral Home in Hudson, with dear family friend Father Nick Becker presiding. Services were followed by internment at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Valatie and a gathering of family and friends at the Val-Kin Restaurant in Valatie.
The family thanks Dr. Freinberg’s loving caregiver, Dianah “Cindy”, the Valatie Rescue Squad and the doctors and nurses at Albany Medical Center who supported him in his valiant effort. They also thank friends and the community for the outpouring of love that has helped them all to celebrate his life well-lived. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Valatie Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 242, Valatie 12184.
