Richard F. Donovan, Jr. (1947 – 2018)
HUDSON—Richard “Dick” F. Donovan, Jr. passed away peacefully December 19, 2018 after a long and courageous battle with cancer with family by his side.
He was born in Hudson Falls, April 12, 1947. He was predeceased by his parents Richard and Etta Donovan.
He is survived by: a brother, Mike (Beverly) Donovan and a sister, Debby (Bruce) Vanguilder, both of Hudson Falls; his beloved Aunt Gene “Tiny” Reynolds; cousins, Carol Thackeray and Carl Reynolds.
He was the proud and loving father of Megan (Chris) Ryder, Maura Donovan, Molly (Joseph) Lazzara, Matthew Donovan, and Michaela Donovan. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Xavier, Hudson, and Eva-Kate Ryder, Madelyn and Michael Ferrara, and Enzo and Luca Lazzara; several nieces and nephews.
He spent his career working in the insurance industry in both Hudson and Albany. Post retirement he dedicated his time working at the Hudson Department of Youth, a job he valued more than any other. He enjoyed bragging about his children and grandchildren, rooting for the NY Yankees and Giants, cooking, coaching youth sports, acting and directing in community theater, supporting various community events, and participating (arguing) in local politics.
Many people touched his life, especially those who attended the regular “boys night out” dinners at Wunderbar, and the close friends of his children whom he loved as his own.
In lieu of a wake and funeral, per his wishes, the family hosted a celebration of his life December 29, 2018 at the City of Hudson Fire Department, 77 North Seventh Street, Hudson. Arrangements were with the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson.
Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences.
Douglas J. McLaren (1949 – 2018)
VALATIE—Douglas John McLaren, 69, of Valatie passed away Thursday, December 20.
Born January 9, 1949 in Hudson, he was the son of John and Evelyn (Tinker) McLaren.
He was a teacher at the St. Mary’s Academy in Hudson, and Questar in Greenport and Troy prior to his retirement.
Mr. McLaren along with his wife Michele were also proprietors of Bookland in Hudson. An avid reader, he loved history, and had master’s degrees in education and history. He loved boating and spending time at their house in Maine.
Mr. McLaren was the former Kinderhook Town Historian, and Philmont Rotary Club member.
Left to cherish his memory are: his wife, Michele (Lee) McLaren; son, Aaron Perry and his wife Antonette; daughter, Erica Balon; grandchildren, Spencer and Alex Perry and Timothy and Sarah Balon.
Visitation at the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson was Thursday December 27, followed by a memorial service.
Anne C. Drew (1923 – 2018)
GHENT—Anne Drew, 95, of Greenport passed away Thursday, December 20 in Ghent.
Born January 7, 1923 in Hudson, she was the daughter of Dennis and Jane (Doyle) Cuddy.
Mrs. Drew was an elementary school teacher at the Martin H. Glynn School in Valatie prior to teaching at the Elmont School District on Long Island for 41 years. She was a communicant at Holy Trinity Parish St. Mary’s in Hudson, where she served as a lector, religious education teacher, and Christian Service Committee member. She was also active with the Greenport Historical Society.
Mrs. Drew is survived by: her nephew, Dennis Cuddy; nieces, Jane Lynch and Mary McGlinn, along with several cousins and dear friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Frank Drew in 2001; siblings, the Reverend Gerald Cuddy, S.J., Edmund Cuddy and Sister Adrian Francis Cuddy, CSJ.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday, December 22 from Holy Trinity St. Mary’s Parish in Hudson. Interment was in Cedar Park Cemetery. Arrangements were with the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson.
Rosemary Coons (1937 – 2018)
CLAVERACK—Rosemary Coons, age 81, passed away December 24, 2018 in the comfort of her home in Claverack.
She was born December 29, 1937 to Roland and Elizabeth (Koeppe) Riegel.
She grew up taking care of her family, she loved taking care of her grandchildren through the years. Mrs. Coons enjoyed joy rides with her sister often throughout the years going to yard sales, and going out for lunch, and dinner as often as she could.
Left to cherish her memory are: her children, Victoria Parsons (David) of Ocean Isle Beach, NC, and Copake Lake, Kenneth Coons (Lisa) of Philmont, and Edward Coons (Kym) of Mellenville; her grandchildren, Laura Pace (Parsons) whom loved her dearly and spent most of her childhood by her side, Lindsay Arp (Bill), Adriane Parsons, Kenneth Coons, and Brett Coons; her great-grandchildren, Isaac Parsons, Isabelle Parsons, and her special great-grandchild, Jackson Arp, who went to visit his gram on the hill.
She had many nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her brother William Riegel of Philmont.
She was predeceased by her husband, Donald R. Coons and by her loving sister, Betty Lou Meltz, who she adored very much, and her brothers, Charles and David Riegel. Arrangements were with the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson.
Cynthia E. Atkinson (1935 – 2018)
LIVINGSTON—Cynthia Eaton Atkinson passed away surrounded by her loving daughters on Christmas morning, December 25, 2018, 10 months after the passing of her husband and soulmate, George.
Born August 1, 1935 in Leominster, MA, she was 83 years old. Her parents were Carroll Robert Eaton and Marion Garland Eaton.
Mrs. Atkinson graduated from Newtown High School and attended the University of Connecticut. She dedicated her life to her husband and her family and had a love for gardening, sewing and crafts.
She married George Bliss Atkinson in 1959 and they began the next chapter of their lives together in 1961 when they moved to Livingston to start Locust Corner Dairy Farm. They had three daughters who grew to be Mrs. Atkinson’s best friends. She supported her husband in his farming and managed the Atkinson Livestock Transportation Service, where she could always be found in the passenger seat of the Critter Carrier.
Besides her parents, Mrs. Atkinson was predeceased by her husband, George Atkinson. She is survived by: her brother, Dave (Sue) Eaton; her three daughters, Nancy (Michael) Glasgow, Betsy (Rick) Holden and Darcy (James) Connor; her grandchildren. who adored their “Grammie,” Gabriel Holden (Ciara), Katelyn (Jordan) Hughson, Kelsie (BJ) Mack, Jency (Eric) Wright, Caroline Connor and Jameson Connor; and her great-grandchildren, who were loved by their “GG,” Beau, Kenley, Charlotte, Elsie, Maddox and Michael.
For decades, Mrs. Atkinson was a faithful servant of the Linlithgo Reformed Church and a dutiful member of the Greenport Garden Club. She loved watching birds and knitting for her family and friends. Above all else, she loved being surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and watching them grow.
A memorial service was held Saturday, December 29, 2018 at the Linlithgo Reformed Church in Livingston.
Arrangements were with the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson.
Norma E. Kilmer (1923 – 2018)
HUDSON—Norma Edna Kilmer passed away peacefully surrounded by family December 26, 2018.
Born in Hudson, January 13, 1923, she was the daughter of the late James and Edna Whitaker.
She was a graduate of Hudson High School. A loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was a homemaker, and also worked at the Universal Match Company and Jamesway. Mrs. Kilmer enjoyed spending winters in Florida, swimming, teaching line dancing, reading, crocheting, singing in the church choir, traveling, baking scotch-a-roos and collecting sea shells.
She was predeceased by her husband of 69 years, Wallace J. Kilmer, Sr.; her brothers, Lauren and Kenneth Whitaker and brother-in-law, Robert C. Kilmer.
Mrs. Kilmer is survived by: her sons, Stanley (Patricia) Kilmer, Sr. of Hudson, Lawrence (the late Barbara) Kilmer of Catskill and Wallace (Sheila) Kilmer, Jr. of Florida; eight grandchildren, Susan Kilmer, Pamela Kulyniak, Stanley Kilmer Jr., Rachel Griffin, Heather Kilmer, Stephanie Wood, Rebecca Beasley and Miranda Velonis, along with nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation at the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson will be Monday, January 7, 2019 from 10 a.m. to noon followed by a funeral service at noon. Interment will be in Cedar Park Cemetery.
Alvin J. Zempko (1939 -2018)
GREENPORT—Alvin Joseph Zempko passed away December 28, 2018.
Born March 11, 1939, he was the son of the late Anna (Drabick) Zempko and Raymond Zempko.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sharon, whom he lovingly called “Bubby.” He graduated from St. Mary’s Academy and served his country in the United States Coast Guard from 1962 until 1970. He was a past-member of the Sacred Heart Church Men’s Club, the Federation of Polish Sportsman, Greenport Pumper #1 and Ducks Unlimited.
Mr. Zempko was a hard worker and a genuine family man. His life revolved around his children Darrin Zempko of Claverack, Marcy (Jay) Wolfe of Claverack and Scott Zempko of Hudson. He adored his grandchildren Dylan Zempko, Hannah Wolfe, Ella Wolfe and Natalie Zempko.
He loved family gatherings and vacationing on Cape Cod every summer along with many camping trips. His hobbies included carving duck decoys and painting migratory birds. He was an avid hunter and spent time duck hunting and fishing with his children on his riverfront property. He was a true sportsman and was a monitor on the Greenport Land Conservancy for many years. He also raised and raced homing pigeons, coached the Harts Elks Little League team, and loved to do gardening and landscaping.
Mr. Zempko worked for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Hudson as a route driver and then transferred to Albany where he worked as a district manager for many years for Coke. He more recently worked at Williams Lumber in Greenport.
Also surviving is Mr. Zempko’s sister, Kathleen (Matt) Clark of Hudson; brother, Raymond (Carol) Zempko of Hudson and his brother-in-law, Thomas Kardash, who was his very devoted caregiver. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Mr. Zempko was predeceased by his sister, Diane Zempko.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours at the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson, Thursday, January 3, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by a service and interment in Cedar Park Cemetery.