Therese M. O’Rourke (1927 – 2014)
GREAT BARRINGTON, MA—Therese M. O’Rourke of Ghent passed away peacefully June 29, 2014 at Fairview Commons.
She was born in New York City, November 3, 1927 to Thomas A. and Mary E. Porter.
Ms. O’Rourke was a graduate of Grace Business Institute in Manhattan and worked for a number of legal firms in the Albany area before returning to work in Chatham at Connor, Curran, Connor, Flint and Schram.
She also worked for Albert Callan at the Chatham Courier. Ms. O’Rourke considered Mr. Callan and his wife, Ginny, dear friends.
She retired from Berkshire Farm Center where she worked for Dr. James Bell, with whom she shared a mutual respect.
In retirement, Ms. O’Rourke continued to work as a secretary for the Town of Ghent Planning and Zoning Boards and as the deputy town clerk.
She was a communicant of St. James Roman Catholic Church. She was known to her family and many friends as a strong woman. Although she accomplished much in her life, she was most proud of raising her five children on her own.
Ms. O’Rourke is survived by: her children and their spouses, Kevin (Juanita) O’Rourke, Dan (Annie) O’Rourke, Michele (John) Kraham and Brian (Sadie) O’Rourke; her loving grandchildren, Alicia, Shana, Sarah, Zachary, Kathryn ,Rachel, Rebekah, Ryan, Michaela, Sean, Alexa, Caden, Kiera; four great-grandchildren; her always supportive brother-in-laws, James and Joseph O’Rourke. She was predeceased by her beloved son, Rory and adored granddaughter, Meghan Kraham.
There will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, July 7, 10 a.m. at St. James Roman Catholic Church, burial will follow at Ghent Union Cemetery. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully request donations be made to the Meghan N. Kraham Scholarship Fund, c/o Kinderhook Bank, Chatham 12037.
Arrangements are with the Wenk Funeral Home, 21 Payn Avenue, Chatham. To convey online condolences visit wenkfuneralhome.com.
Ronald Jacob Burch (1939 – 2014)
HUDSON—Ronald Jacob Burch, 75, of Livingston died Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at Columbia Memorial Hospital. He was the son of the late Jacob Burch and Mary Clapper Burch, born February 16, 1939.
He was the husband of Florence D. Burch, who died September 30, 2013. They were married April 30, 1996.
He worked for many years on the janitorial staff at the Hudson City School District. He was a former fireman with the J.W. Edmunds Hose, a 25-year member of the Knights of Columbus, and a life-member of the North American Fishing Club.
Mr. Burch loved animals and raised chickens, ducks and geese and showed them at the Columbia County Fair for many years. He also had several cats and dogs over the years until he went to live in Livingston Hills Nursing Home.
He is survived by many special friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Animalkind, 721 Warren Street, Hudson 12534 or to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, 111 Humane Society Road, Hudson 12534.
There will be no calling hours.
Graveside services will be held Friday, July 11, 2014, 10:30 a.m. at Cedar Park Cemetery.
Arrangements are with the Bates and Anderson – Redmond and Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson. Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences.
Sara K. Merrick (1923 – 2014)
TIVOLI—Sara K. Merrick, 91, of Tivoli, formerly of Brewster and Ancram, died July 4, 2014 peacefully with family.
Born January 9, 1923 in Katonah, she was the daughter of the late Mariano and Antoinette Maccarini.
On March 22, 1940 in White Plains, she married Irving Merrick. They enjoyed 64 years of marriage. She was predeceased by her husband, Irving Merrick; her sister, Rose Washburn and her three brothers, Leonard, Dominic, and Samuel Maccarini.
She was employed for a number of years at the Putnam County Farm Bureau. For more than 25 years, she was a volunteer at Columbia Memorial Hospital and a member of the Copake Hillsdale Garden Club.
Mrs. Merrick spent many years as a board member for the Taconic Hills School District. She enjoyed cooking, gardening and reading. She also was an avid knitter. She adopted a kindergarten class in Virginia and at Christmas knitted hats for each child. She also made hats for Save the Children, local hospitals and numerous friends and neighbors.
Survivors include: her children and their spouses, Wanda Flynn (Thomas Flynn) of Wallkill, Judith Ippolito (Dr. Vincent Ippolito) of Hyde Park, William Merrick (Kyle) of Clinton and Doree Grabski of Baldwinsville; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be no visiting hours. A graveside service will be held at the Rhinebeck Cemetery, Route 9, Tuesday, July 8 at 11 a.m.
Arrangements are under the direction of Burnett & White Funeral Homes, 91 East Market Street, Rhinebeck. For directions or to sign the online guest book visit www.Burnett-White.com.
