Johannah Hermance, 86, restaurant cook, poultry farmer
VALATIE—Johannah H. Hermance, 86, of Valatie, died Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at her home.
Born in Hudson, March 12, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Louis and Cornelia (Clemens) Brown.
Mrs. Hermance grew up in West Taghkanic and worked at the Val-Kin
Restaurant as a cook for more than 30 years. Before that, she operated the Sunnybrook Poultry Farm in Stuyvesant.
She is survived by: four children, Paul C. (Linda) Hermance of Pensacola, FL, Carolyn A. Hermance of Hudson, Mildred A. (Jeffrey) Dillinger of Valatie and Mary A. (Duane) Hotaling of Niverville; a sister, Alice Ward of Williamstown, MA; five grandchildren, Bonnie Murphy, Paul C. Hermance, Jr., Michele Stewart, Meredith Balderrama and Duane Anthony Hotaling; nine great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Paul James Hermance; a son, James E. Hermance; a daughter, Veronica Lee Hermance; her brothers and sisters, Bernhard and William Brown, Emma Leach, Florence Moskaluk, Mildred Young, Carolyn Brown, Esther Duntz, Helen Bard and Frances Tomaso.
At her request, she will be cremated and there will be no services. Arrangements are with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Valatie. The family expresses its heartfelt appreciation for the compassionate and excellent care provided over the years by Dr. Neal Baillargeon and his staff. Memorial contributions may be made to the Niverville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 64, Niverville 12130, the Valatie Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 242, Valatie 12184 or the Valatie Community Theatre Inc., P.O. Box 297, Valatie 12184.
Lydia Gerkman, 63, homemaker, devoted to family
HUDSON—Lydia J. Gerkman, 63, of Livingston, died Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born December 7, 1948 in Hudson, she was the daughter of the late Lois and Chester Everetts, Sr.
Ms. Gerkman was a homemaker and devoted to her family.
She was the beloved mother of Dawn Hendricks of Catskill and Vanessa Altomer of Stuyvesant and devoted grandmother “Mimi” of Steven, Abigail, Anthony, Hannah, Emily, Michael and Mason.
She was predeceased by her son, Michael C. Gerkman, and her fiancé, Leslie McClure.
A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.
To leave a message for the family go to www.batesanderson.com.
Frances Westfall, 92, fourth-grade teacher, homemaker
ALBANY—Frances Avella Westfall, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away at the Teresian House, March 28, 2012 at the age of 92.
Born in Monson, MA, she was the first-born child of Mary and Joseph Avella.
Her family marveled at her courage and determination after suffering a stroke in 2002. Although she lived a long and full life, her loss leaves a deep sadness in the hearts of her family and friends.
Mrs. Westfall graduated in 1938 from Monson High School, where she was a Pro Merito student. She was active in drama club and band. She attended Springfield Junior College in Springfield, MA, and graduated in 1942 with a BA in English from the University of Massachusetts, where she was a member of Sigma Beta Chi sorority, Newman Club and the school orchestra.
She worked as an assistant claims examiner for the Aetna Life Insurance Co. in Hartford, CT, from 1943 to 45. It was there that she met and married her husband, Paul Westfall in 1943. She became a homemaker and raised three children before she started her teaching career. She began teaching full-time in 1959 at the Stottville Elementary School, where she taught fourth grade until her retirement in 1975.
Active in the community, Mrs. Westfall was a member of several organizations including the Stottville PTO, the Greenport PTA, the Jayncees, the Greenport Hospital Auxiliary, the Greenport Senior Citizens, the Court Columbia Catholic Daughters of America, and St. Mary’s Church, Hudson.
Summers from 1945 to 1964 were spent at Sea Cliff House in Livingston Manor. She and her husband managed the resort for his parents. Family and friends have many fond memories of time spent in the Catskill Mountains.
When they retired, the Westfalls spent winters in Hobe Sound, FL, with many of their Hudson friends.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Westfall was predeceased by her husband, Paul, and her son-in-law, Paul Viscusi, both in 1994.
Surviving are: three children, Donna Viscusi of Niskayuna, Paul Westfall of Florida, and Glenn Westfall and his wife Christine of Colonie; six “precious” grandchildren, Lisa Viscusi, Lori Waldenmaier (Michael), Kristina Westfall, Lindsey Murphy (Nicholas), Lauren Westfall and Glenn Westfall, Jr.; two great-grandsons, Michael and Max Waldenmaier; a sister, Josephine Laflamme of Quincy, MA; a niece, Martha Jean Desserres and two nephews, Thomas and Gerald Laflamme.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Saturday, March 31 at St. Mary’s Church in Hudson. Burial was in Cedar Park Cemetery. Arrangements were with the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson.
To leave a message for the family go to www.batesanderson.com.
