Jeanne Marie Rich (1946 -2014)
VALATIE—Jeanne Marie (Preston) Rich joined her Lord June 2, 2014. She passed peacefully surrounded by her family.
She was born September 28, 1946, the daughter of Blanche and Russell Preston.
She is survived by: her son, John Rich, his wife, Dena Rich, and their three daughters Ella, Emilia and Camryn; her daughter, Kristen Hodlin, and her husband, Joseph Hodlin.
Ms. Rich was a very gifted teacher at Catskill elementary school, whose passion was to educate and inspire children with special needs. She was an amazing mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend whose enthusiasm for her work was second only to her immense love for her family and her deep faith in God.
She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.
“Mom, we will spend the rest of our lives trying to be a fraction of the human being that you were in this life.”
Funeral services were held Friday, June 6 at the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie. Burial followed in Kinderhook Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1 Penny Lane, Latham 12110.
Muriel Ruth (King) Gibbons (1918 – 2014)
ROCHESTER—Muriel Ruth (King) Gibbons, 95, died April 26, 2014 in Rochester after a brief illness.
She was born in Woodhaven, November 6, 1918 to John and Florence (Tuplin) King.
She attended St. Philip Neri School and Northport High School.
She married Peter J. Gibbons June 26, 1946. He predeceased her in 1978. Young in heart, forever learning and open to exploring new areas, with much pride, she was awarded a BA by Empire State College at age 80.
Mrs. Gibbons contributed much to life in Columbia County and the Capital Region where she worked and resided for most of her 95+ years. She received many honors for her professional public relations work and incalculable voluntary hours dedicated unstintingly to diverse community service organizations. She is also remembered fondly by many who learned ballroom dancing in classes in Kinderhook, taught by Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons.
Early in her life, she was a reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle and wrote an onsite story about the crash of a private plane into the Empire State Building in 1945.
She and her husband owned Gibbons Market in Kinderhook in the 1950s. Later Mrs. Gibbons worked for the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene and the New York State Public Employment Relations Board. She also worked in Albany’s Capitol building for Cuyler News.
She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and numerous cultural and service organizations in the Capital Region, to which she gave thousands of hours. These include: The Ten Broeck Mansion, Columbia County Council on the Arts, Women’s Press Club, Albany; St. John the Baptist Church; Hudson River Classics, North Pointe Cultural Arts Center, Kinderhook; the Independent Living Center Troy, Winding Brook Country Club and the Old Chatham Hunt Club. Mrs. Gibbons was also a founding member of the Columbia County Young Republicans Club.
Mrs. Gibbons lived in Kinderhook for most of her married life. In 2006, she and her sister Ellen moved in together to Avila Retirement Community in Albany. A few years later (in 2010) Mrs. Gibbons moved to Atria Assisted Living Center and then to St Peter’s Nursing Home. Most recently she relocated to become roommates with of her older sister Ellen Zimmermann at Lakeside Biekirch Care Center in Brockport.
Mrs. Gibbons loved reporting including co-writing Avila’s “News and Views” monthly newsletter with her sister Ellen. Mrs. Gibbons was an avid fan of the news and was able to keep up with it by using low vision aids even after she suffered macular degeneration.
Besides her older sister, Mrs. Gibbons is survived by her sisters, Jeanne M. Leavitt and Jacquelyn A. King, as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Consistent with her generous and caring nature, Mrs. Gibbons gave her body to the University of Rochester’s anatomical gift program.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Mrs. Gibbons memory June 17, 2014, 2 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Church, Valatie.
Donations in Mrs. Gibbons’ memory may be made to the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, 15-17 Third Street, Troy 12180 or St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 1025 Kinderhook Street, Valatie 12184
Barbara A. Krufchinski (1931 – 2014)
GREAT BARRINGTON, MA—Barbara A. “Betty” Krufchinski, 83, of Route 22 in Copake Falls passed away Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at Fairview Hospital.
She was born May 15, 1931 in Hempstead, the daughter of Percy and Marie (Diechler) Hall.
Along with her late husband, she was the former owner and operator of PK Metals on Long Island and PK Antiques in Hillsdale.
She enjoyed antiquing and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Mrs. Krufchinski was predeceased by her husband, Paul Krufchinski in 1985.
Survivors include: her children, Paul (Lorraine) Krufchinski of Middleburgh, Peter (Andrea) Krufchinski of Blackstone, VA, Marie (Jan) Near of Copake Falls and Barbara (Harris) Van Slyke of Mascot, TN. She also leaves her grandchildren, Lorraine, Paul, DareRick, Bryan, Amy, Jennifer, Steven, Joseph and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Friday June 6, 2014 at the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 8063 State Route 22 in Copake.
Interment was in the North Hillsdale Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York 10016.
To place an online condolence visit www.peckandpeck.net.
Clifford W. “Pete” Gillette (1937 – 2014)
HUDSON—Clifford W. “Pete” Gillette, 76, of Valatie died Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born December 17, 1937 in Hudson, he was the son of the late Clifford Arthur and Mildred Frances (Skinkle) Gillette.
Mr. Gillette was a farmer and worked for the Edward Williams Farm in Chatham Center for many years. He was a life member and past captain of the Tri-Village Fire Company fire police, a member of both the Old Time Power Association and the Niverville/Chatham Center United Methodist Church and an avid gardener.
He is survived by his cousin, Edward Williams (Melinda) of Valatie and several cousins and nieces.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 7, noon, at the Raymond E Bond Funeral Home, 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie, with the Reverend James Slater officiating. Burial will follow in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Valatie.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tri-Village Fire Company or the Niverville/Chatham Center United Methodist Church.
Pasquale “Pat” Zanchelli (1923 – 2014)
S. BURLINGTON, VT—Pasquale “Pat” Zanchelli passed away peacefully at Pillsbury Manor North in South Burlington, VT, with his family by his side Monday, June 2, 2014.
He was born November 15, 1923 in Germantown, the son of the late Nicolo Antonio and Carolina (Florio) Zanchelli.
He attended schools in Germantown, and left school at age 17 to work in defense industries in Connecticut with his father and friends until the outbreak of World War II. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Service at age 19 in May of 1943 and was stationed in Los Alamedas, CA and Guam. After his honorable discharge in 1946, he was employed at the Lone Star Cement Company, laboratory division, in Hudson. He later was employed at Prudential Life Insurance Company until his retirement in 1985. After retirement, Mr. Zanchelli enjoyed following the stock market and getting together with family and friends.
On July 17, 1954 he married Pearl Jane Peters, who predeceased him in 2008.
He is survived by: his loving daughter and son-in-law, Faith Ann and Robert McDonald of South Burlington, VT; grandson, Ryan; granddaughter, Kelly; brothers, Anthony of Ghent, Joseph and (Joyce) of Wilton, Frank and (Mary Ann) of Pleasant Valley; sister, Angela (Zanchelli) Fraleigh of Highland Beach, FL; 10 nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Bates and Anderson Funeral Home in Hudson, Saturday, June 21 at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, make a donation to a local Visiting Nurse Association.
Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences for the family.
