Obituaries

Elizabeth J. McCann “Betty” 91, passed away on Tuesday, December 11, 2018. Born in Ballston Spa, NY on December 5, 1927, she was the daughter of Clarence and Mary Hogan.

Betty was a bus driver for Ballston Spa Central Schools for 23 years. She then worked as a bus monitor until her retirement in 1990.

She was an avid NY Yankee fan. Betty enjoyed the Casino’s and watching the horses run at the Saratoga Racetrack in the summer.

She was predeceased by her husband Oscar McCann, brother Earl Hogan and sister Helen Plummer. Betty is survived by her son James McCann and his wife Kathy, and her beloved granddog Cooper.

Funeral services will be held 11am Friday, December 14 at Armer Funeral Home, Inc., 39 East High Street, Ballston Spa. Burial will follow in Ballston Spa Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home at 10:30am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Betty may be made to the Saratoga County Animal Shelter, 6010 County Farm Road, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.

Jean Sleight, 86, passed away on Friday, December 7, 2018. Born in Schenectady, NY on April 20, 1932, she was the daughter of Charles and Folma Jackson.

Jean was a homemaker and lovingly raised her family. She worked for NYS and later for Galway Schools.

Jean was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Ballston Spa and volunteered in the food pantry at church. She was very active in the Make A Wish Foundation. She loved to craft, making angels was her favorite. She enjoyed face painting and camping. Playing bridge was one of her favorite things.

She was predeceased by her husband Gordon, her sister Alice, great grandson Elijah and granddaughter in law Tanya. Jean is survived by her husband William F. Bernadt, Jr.; children William (Barbara), Robert (Bev), Bonnie, Buck (Cissy), Brian (Amy) and Brad (Dawn); brother Len (Anita); 10 grandchildren Travis, Brandon, Kyle, Amber, Lisa, Marisa, Chrisandra, Amanda, Dana and Christopher; and 24 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 12 noon Wednesday, December 12 at Christ Episcopal Church, West High Street, Ballston Spa. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Tuesday, December 11 from 4pm to 7pm at Christ Church.

Memorial contributions in memory of Jean may be made to Christ Episcopal Church.

The family would like to thank Saratoga Hospital, Community Hospice of Saratoga and the members of Christ Church for their care and compassion.

Nancy J. (Reckner) Crawford passed away on Friday, November 23, 2018 at the age of 86. She was born in Ballston Spa, NY on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1932 to Charles A. and Louise (Baumgartner) Reckner.

Nancy attended Ballston Spa schools and then worked at Ricketts Dry Cleaners until she married the love of her life Gordon B. Crawford in 1958. She was a member of West Charlton United Presbyterian Church and the Mohawk Antique Auto Club.

Nancy loved life itself, being a mom and grandmother. She enjoyed raising vegetables and flowers in her gardens, and caring for many animals from small bunnies to cats, dogs and ponies. She was always humming or singing old songs. Her laughter was contagious.

Nancy was predeceased by her husband Gordon, siblings Louise Stanislowsky, Alma, Charlie and Paul Reckner, and her niece Lynne Stanislowsky.

Nancy is survived by her daughters, Connie Crawford and Karen Fabian (David); grandchildren Ashley Buglione (Nick) and Joshua Fabian; and many nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by her cats Pookie, TaBoo, Ping and Missy.

There will be no calling hours. A graveside service will be held in the Spring at West Charlton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Nancy’s memory may be made to the Animal Charity/Rescue of your choice.

The family would like to thank Molly Holbritter who was Mom’s devoted caregiver for the last months of her life at Pine Valley.

Gertrude (Trudy) E. LaDucer, 72, passed away on Monday, November 12, 2018. Born in Troy, NY on October 28, 1946, she was the daughter of Chester and Florence Moon.

Trudy lovingly raised her family and later worked for Ellsworth Ice Cream in Saratoga Springs. She was an avid reader and enjoyed crocheting. She made many prayer shawls for her church and blankets and hats which she donated to others who were battling cancer.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Charles and Larry Moon.

Trudy is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, Irving, and their daughters Sheri Litchfield (Jerry), and Rebecca Potter (Bruce); grandchildren Jeremy, Jenna, Emily, Jaxen, and Landon; sisters Marilyn Smith and Ruth Douglas. She was also loved by Nikki, Jade and Kendra and many nieces and nephews.

Without a doubt, Trudy’s grandchildren were her greatest joy. She fought a courageous battle. Her role as Nana is what gave her strength and kept her going. Trudy’s only wish was to live long enough for her grandchildren to know and remember her and her wish was granted.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday, November 16 from 5pm to 7pm at Armer Funeral Home, Inc., 39 East High Street, Ballston Spa. A service will follow at 7pm.

In lieu of flowers contributions in memory of Trudy may be made to Strength in Numbers. This charity was created to ease expenses or provide gifts of joy to families battling cancer. Donations may be sent to any branch of the Glens Falls National Bank.

Marian Curtis Kunz, 95 went to be with the Lord on November 11, 2018.

Born in Ballston Center, NY on June 21, 1923, she was the daughter of Julia Relyea Curtis Kathan and Arthur Curtis, she grew up in Burnt Hills. Marian graduated from Skidmore and Russell Sage Colleges receiving her master’s degree in elementary education. She worked as a teacher at Corinth and Shenendehowa Central School District.

Marian was actively involved with the Shaker Heritage Society, a charter member of the Malta Ridge Fire Auxiliary, a member of the Malta Ridge United Methodist Church and DAR. She was an avid bridge player.

She was predeceased by her husband Ernest W. Kunz, her parents, sister Esther Bogdanowicz and brother Arthur Curtis.

Marian is survived by her children Gina Kunz (Richard Ruman) of Florida, Curt Kunz (Melissa Cornthwaite), Sandra Kunz, and Jamie Kunz-Butler (Jeffrey Butler) all of Malta; sister Virginia Sack; three grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

Services will be private.

Lorraine M. DeScisciolo 85, passed away on Wednesday, November 7, 2018. Born in Webster, Massachusetts, on July 24, 1933, she was the daughter of Donat and Dorothy Trudeau.

Lorraine was a Licensed Practical Nurse. She worked at several hospitals in Connecticut and later worked at Wesley Health Care Center, retiring from Dr. Finger’s Office in Saratoga Springs.

Lorraine loved vacationing in Maine, long walks on the beach and shopping. She enjoyed baking and going out for a good cup of coffee. She treasured the time spent with her children and grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband Arthur DeScisciolo, Sr., and her siblings Jeanne, Bobby and Priscilla. Lorraine is survived by her children Karen Riemenschneider (David), Kim Baldwin (Barry), Arthur DeScisciolo, Jr. (Terri), Luanne Sansiveri (Tony) and Christopher DeScisciolo (Susan); grandchildren Jonathan, Nichole, Courtney, Marissa, Mikayla, Nicholas, Andrew, Brandon, Jessica and Sean; great grandchildren Landon, Laiken, Zack, Ashley, Symantha, Travis and Tyler; sister Anne Squillacote (Charlie); and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held 9am Friday, November 9 at St. Mary’s Church, Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa, where a mass of Christian burial will be celebrated. Burial will follow in the Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Road, Schuylerville. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday, November 8 from 5pm to 7pm at Armer Funeral Home, Inc. 39 East High Street, Ballston Spa.

Memorial contributions in memory of Lorraine may be made to Mary’s Haven.

Mary Ortoleva, a longtime resident of the Village of Ballston Spa, died November 3, 2018 after a brief hospitalization. Mary was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on December 25th, 1920, to Lara Wolf and Augustus Lytle Read, both of whom predeceased her. Her sisters Shirley Lee Read Sabatini Brown and Norma Jean Fresoni also predeceased her. Mary is survived by her daughters Elaine Youngblood (Jerry) and Lori Agnew (Ron), her grandchildren Flagg and Megan Youngblood, many nieces and nephews, and two cousins, to whom she was affectionately known as “Aunt Mimi.”

Mary and her family moved from Lincoln to Ballston Spa in 1931, joining her grandparents Frank and Lucretia and her great grandfather Jeremiah Gullian, a veteran of the Civil War, at the Wolf family farm on Brownell Road in Malta. Mary attended the one room schoolhouse at the corner of East High Street and Van Aernem Road. Mary graduated from Ballston Spa High School in 1938 and is the last surviving member of her class.

Through the matchmaking efforts of Rose Strianese in 1939, Mary met and married Roy Ortoleva, the owner of the Ballston Food Market on Milton Avenue, which Roy operated with his brothers Mike and Arman through the early 1970s. Roy died in December 1989, three months after he and Mary celebrated their 50th anniversary with a large family gathering on Saratoga Lake.

Mary was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church, serving on the altar guild sixty-five years, helping with the many hosted suppers and festivals, teaching Sunday school, and volunteering weekly at the community food pantry. She became a Brownie troop leader in 1948, continuing to serve as a Girl Scout leader for over twenty-five years, including serving as an advisor to girls attending Triangle. Mary was active with the Ballston Spa Garden Club for over forty years, attending luncheons well into her early nineties, the Saratoga chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Saratoga Court Order of the Amaranth, and the Saratoga chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, holding various offices in each over the years. Mary was an avid bridge player over the years with several notable Ballston ladies including Emilie Arff, Vesta Dygert, Jean Puckhaber, Veeda Tooper, Eunice Schallehn and Ruth Dibelius.

Mary worked as a secretary at Electric Boat in West Milton and then a clerk for both the Village of Ballston Spa and the Saratoga County Motor Vehicles office, where she processed countless driver’s licenses for local teenagers. Mary will be remembered for many things—her lovely blonde hair, her cheery spirit, her indomitable determination, and her decades of selfless service to others and to her church.

A memorial service for Mary will be held at 11am on Thursday, December 13th at the chapel at Christ Church on West High Street in Ballston Spa, with greetings with family and friends at 10am. In lieu of flowers, donations to Guide Dogs for the Blind (www.GuideDogs.com) or the Saratoga County Animal Shelter would be appreciated in Mary’s memory.

Donnie Lee LaPier was a courageous kind man born on August 16, 1952 and passed away on November 1, 2018.

Donnie is survived by his children Adam LaPier (Jennifer Bulley), Shenette LaPier (Damien Cady), Davie LaPier, Kristina Mulligan (AJ Mulligan), Fred Murdie ( Kim Rose), Donald LaPier, Patti Oare and Crystal; his beautiful grandchildren, and his brothers and sisters Ronnie LaPier (Doran), Babe Ruth Murdie, Charlene Phenes (Rexford), Margaret LaPier (Margie), and Peggie Been (John).

Donnie was predeceased by his parents, Bert and Margaret LaPier, and his siblings Frank LaPier, Judy LaPier, Susie Ferrara, June Sarro, Clara LaPier, Dennis Lapier, Charlie LaPier, and Rickie LaPier.

Donnie enjoyed being a mechanic and working on his truck and other peoples vehicles as well. He loved being a carpenter, electrician and plumber. He worked at the Gideon Putnam Hotel for over 20 years. Donnie was an amazing artist, who loved the outdoors. He could fix anything you put in front of him and enjoyed the challenge. Spending time with his grandkids was one of his greatest pastimes.

He was a well rounded man who enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. He will be greatly missed by everyone.

Don’t think of him as gone away his journeys just begun
life holds many facets this earth is only one.
Just think of him as resting from the sorrows and tears
in a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days and years.
Think of how he must be wishing that we could know today
how nothing but our sadness can really pass away.
And think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched
For nothing loved is ever lost And he was loved so much.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Edson C. Barss, 79, passed away on Sunday, October 28, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on January 2, 1939 in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Ed was a truck driver for Van Raalt Co and Fiberglass Industries for many years. He received the Driver of the Year Award for 3 million miles accident free.

After his retirement, he joined his wife and drove bus for Stanski Transportation and ended his career driving at Upstate. He loved all the children that rode with him.

Ed was an EMT for the Corinth Volunteer Ambulance. He enjoyed hunting, camping, and canoeing. He treasured the time spent with his family and friends.

He was predeceased by his wife Joan, his parents Irving and Anna Barss, his aunt and uncle who raised him Fred and Edna Barss, and his sister Ruth Savanella.

Ed is survived by his children Laura Spotswood (Ray) of Hadley, Darren Barss (Carrie) of Greenfield Center, and Dwight Barss (Maggie) of Corinth; grandchildren Lindsey Feulner, Ryan Feulner, Darren Barss Jr. (Chrissy), Derrick Barss (Stephanie), Kate Barss, Kristen Bills (Matt), Levi Barss (Kareka), Cody Barss (Angelica), Melinda Spotswood, and Theresa Sullivan; great grandchildren Darren Barss III, Madison Barss, Amelia Barss, Vincent Barss, Perrin Bills, soon to be Wendalynn Barss, Paul Moore and Sophia Goucher; brother Thomas Barss; sisters Shirley Wright and Nancy Wagner; brothers in law Tony Izzo (Gay) and James Savanella; and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday, November 1, from 3pm to 7pm at Armer Funeral Home, Inc., 39 East High Street, Ballston Spa. A graveside service will be held 11am Friday, November 2 at St Peter’s Cemetery, West Avenue, Saratoga Springs.

Following the service at the cemetery on Friday, all are invited to a reception at the Porter Corners Fire House, 405 Bockes Road.

Memorial contributions in memory of Ed may be made to Community Hospice of Saratoga.

John G. Podwirny Sr., age 79, formerly of West Milton, NY, passed away, on Thursday, October 25th, 2018, at Saratoga Center for Rehab and Skilled Nursing Care, after a long illness.

He was born on Wednesday, August 11th, 1939 at Saratoga Hospital to Stella Dake-Stella and John Podwirny. He was a loving and gentle soul to his family. He is survived by his wife Mary Lou Gonyea-Podwirny, his son, John Grover Podwirny Jr. (Elaine), and his grandchildren, Jacob of Indiana, Mary Arnold (Justin), Katelyn, and Daniel Podwirny. He is also survived by his sisters Carole Esposito-Jones (Timothy), and his sister Patricia Tygard (James).

In John’s younger days, he loved cars. He met his love, Mary Lou when she was bartending, and they were married on her 21st birthday.

Before Stewart’s Ice Cream Shoppes became locally recognized, Dad would take animals around to visit local schools and used to run delivery for his mother’s family and Percy Dake. The Dake dream has grown to be loved more than the family expected, with the family joke that Percy and Charles Dake would drive around, and wherever they were when they wanted a cup of coffee, they would start a Stewart’s. After high school, John served as a Seaman First Class in the United States Navy from 1958 to 1961, with an honorable discharge. He was a truck driver-owner operator for a few years, and then became a Regional tractor trailer driver for Destiny Transportation based out of Chicago, Illinois from 1987 til 2006.

When traveling over the road truck driving, he often took his wife, Mary Lou with him, and their little dog, to visit his family when they lived in Ohio. It has been a family tradition for 23 years, for all the family to stay overnight on Christmas Eve, for Christmas morning. On the weekends he loved cooking on the grill, and watching the humming birds with his wife. John worked very hard over many years to give his son an example of a good work ethic and to provide for his family.

When he became ill in 2006, he was cared for at home by his loving wife, Mary, for 7 years. John became a resident of Saratoga Center in 2014, and was visited by his wife every day. They played Bingo and Pequino many times a week, and when they won, she would hang them all on his wall, along with all the drawings she had made. Saratoga Center became a real home to dad. She and dad were so grateful for all of the loving nurses and aides that took loving care of him, and she did her best to make sure he felt he was at home. They just celebrated 50 years.

John was very sweet, patient, and kind to everyone he met, and his “Million Dollar Smile” will be dearly missed by his family and friends, and all of those lives he touched. A private service was held. He will lay to rest at Rock City Falls Cemetery. A donation may be made in lieu of flowers, to Hospice.

Jonah W. Beer, 19, passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. He was born in Troy, NY on December 2, 1998.

Jonah was a student at the Albany College of Pharmacy. He was a pharmacy technician at CVS in Delmar and Saratoga Springs. In the summer, Jonah worked at the Saratoga Racetrack.

Jonah is survived by his beloved brother Jordan Beer, mother Cindy Novak, father Nicholas Beer, grandmother Nancy McGrath; close friend Robert Kavanaugh; and many aunts, uncles and cousins who adored him.

Jonah was a shining light for all of his family and friends and they will miss him dearly.

Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service on Sunday, November 4 at 6pm at St Paul’s Lutheran Church, 149 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs.

Karilee Giglio, 30 passed away October 16th, 2018 unexpectedly. Born in Saratoga Springs, NY, she was the daughter of Anthony and Christine (Maynard) Giglio. Karilee graduated from Galway Central School District.

Karilee was a loving mother to her son Ryder Anthony Doll. Karilee was a free spirit who enjoyed spending her free time taking in all the beauties of the outdoors. She will be remembered as an avid animal lover, who always brought home strays. When she was not taking in nature’s beauty she could be found surrounding herself with her family which she loved dearly. Karilee’s heart beat to the sound of music.

Karilee fought a battle with addiction that ultimately took her life. A battle that families are all too familiar with. Karilee was a fighter in all aspects of her life. With the gift of pregnancy, she found the strength to be sober for over five and a half years. She then spent the last 110 days sober and worked to get back to the beautiful loving person she was. With the help of her family and counselors she was able to laugh and smile with her son before she was taken away by the addiction disease. Karilee’s family wants to empathize with others dealing with these struggles and urges everyone to see the beauty and the real person through their struggle.

Karilee is survived by her loving parents Anthony and Christine Giglio; her son Ryder; paternal grandmother Bernice Barron; long time partner DJ; brother Robert Immel (Sara); sister Lindsey Wallace (Tarmel); multiple nieces and nephews; aunts, uncles and cousins.

Karilee is predeceased by her daughter Magnolia; maternal grandparents Sally and Ronald Maynard; paternal grandfather George Giglio; and infant brother Jesse Giglio.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Saturday, October 20 from 10am to 12 noon at Armer Funeral Home, Inc., 39 East High Street, Ballston Spa. A service will follow at 12 noon.

A gofundme has been set up in her name to help ease the financial burden of funeral services.

George V. McGuinness, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 11, 2018, at the age of 93. The son of William and Josephine McGuinness, he was born in New York City on December 24, 1924. George served in the US Navy as a motor machinist mate in the Pacific Theatre during World War II on the USS Hackleback and USS Loggerhead Submarines.

Following the war, George worked as a diesel engine assembler at the American Locomotive in Schenectady. George started a dairy farm in Malta and farmed for 26 years. He owned and operated Murphy’s Motel in Malta for 25 years.

He was a member of the Malta Ridge Fire Department and served as chief. He was on the Malta Zoning Board of Appeals for 20 years and was the Board’s first chairman. He also served as the sole assessor for the Town of Malta for 13 years, retiring in 1987.

George was predeceased by his wife Barbara. He is survived by his daughter Patricia Wyckoff (Richard), stepdaughters Carol Bailiff, Karen St. Martin, and Barbara Barnes; several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services with military honors will be held 2pm Tuesday, October 16 at the Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Road, Schuylerville.

Charles L. Branagan 64, passed away on Thursday, October 11, 2018. Born in Utica, New York on September 9, 1954, he was the son of Charles and Marianne Branagan.
Charles was a conductor for Amtrak for many years. He later worked at NAPA in Albany. Charles had a passion for racing and got pit passes for many Nascar races. He was an avid tennis player and enjoyed watching matches also.

He was predeceased by his parents Charles and Marianne. Charles is survived by his beloved wife Diane and their son Kyle, and his constant companion, his dog Tyson.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Tuesday, October 16 from 4pm to 6pm at Armer Funeral Home, Inc., 39 East High Street, Ballston Spa. A service will follow at 6pm.

Burial with military honors will be 10am Wednesday, October 17 at the Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Road, Schuylerville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Glenville Veterinary Clinic, 458 Saratoga Road, Glenville, NY 12302 or Estherville Animal Shelter, 100 Russell Road, Greenfield Center, NY 12833.