Ellen Lagitch (1925 – 2012)
HUDSON—Ellen Lagitch, 87, of Hudson passed away Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at Hospice at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born April 15, 1925 in Castleton, she was the daughter of the late Jerald and Eva Bentley.
Mrs. Lagitch worked at the Fort Orange Paper Company before retiring. She loved music, church and dancing.
Surviving are: two daughters, Mary Ellen Harris and Cathy Miner, both of Chatham; a son, Alfred Lagitch, Jr., of Troy; several grandchildren and many good friends.
She was predeceased by her husband, Alfred Lagitch in 1993.
Services were held Friday, November 2 at the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home.
Burial was in Cedar Park Cemetery.
Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave a message for the family.
Dorothy “Dolly” Dooren
E. GREENBUSH—Dolly Dooren of East Greenbush died October 28 at her home surrounded by her beloveds. She radiated love and laughter for 96 years.
She was born in Manhattan, the first of four children born to Dr. Reginald and Edna Van Wert. From the start there was a gentle, contagious sparkle about her that never diminished. She graduated from New York Evening High School, YWCA business school and was a secretary for the Jersey Cattle Club. On vacations, she sailed on the Hudson River Day Line to Columbia County to visit relatives. Many years later she would be drawn back to the area by these early, fond memories.
In June 1940, she sailed to Honolulu, Hawaii to marry the love of her life, her brother Charlie’s best friend, Leonard (Len) Dooren, who was stationed there in the U.S. Navy. Mr. and Mrs. Dooren and their baby daughter all survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the following year.
With her husband largely at sea, Mrs. Dooren raised their five children while relocating from Hawaii to California, Washington State, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Jersey. With Mrs. Dooren, home was where the heart was. After raising her family, she earned a degree as a registered nurse from Essex County Community College in New Jersey.
In 1980, the Doorens retired to their home on Queechy Lake in Canaan, where they raised their granddaughter, Jennifer Dorothy Lee.
Mrs. Dooren was active in the Canaan Congregational Church, the Lebanon Valley Garden Club, the Lebanon Valley Women’s Club and for many years coordinated the Meals-on-Wheels Program in town.
The Doorens moved to Hawthorne Ridge retirement community in East Greenbush in 2006, where Mrs. Dooren was readily made new friends. She was finally able to enjoy being served dinner in the dining room. It was here that her latent NY Yankees leanings blossomed. She loved reading books on her Kindle, playing Mahjong and welcoming visits from family and friends. Her light is sorely missed.
She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Len Dooren; four children, Noralen Cowell and her husband Dave, of Westfield, NJ, Dorothy Dooren of New Lebanon, Leonard Dooren, Jr., and his wife Vivian of Brick, NJ, and Douglas Dooren and his wife Christina of Avon, CT; six grandchildren, Craig and Leonard Dooren, David, Matthew and Grant Cowell and Jennifer Lee; 11 great grandchildren, Grant, Grace, Ryan and Genevieve Cowell, Katie Mae, Caroline, Claire, Corey, Connor, Gavin and Juliana Dooren; two nieces and seven nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter, Terry Susan Dooren-Lee; son-in-law, Chien Chung Lee and three brothers, Albert, Warren and Charles Van Wert.
Her funeral was Friday, November 2 from the Canaan Congregational Church, 1670 County Route 5, Canaan.
Arrangements were with the Rockefeller Funeral Home, 165 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer. Interment was in the Dutch Reformed Cemetery.
Light a condolence candle at www.wjrockefeller.com.
Calvin Pitcher (1921 – 2012)
ALBANY—Calvin S. Pitcher, 91, died October 31, 2012 at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Born August 26, 1921 in East Chatham, he was the son of the late Stephen Haight and Esther Schilling Pitcher.
Mr. Pitcher was a graduate of Chatham High School in 1940; in 1951 he received his master’s degree from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. He served his country proudly in the Naval Air Force as a radioman during World War II from 1942 to 1945.
He was a teacher at Wheaton Academy and Rockford, IL public schools and later taught American history at Chatham Middle School for many years, retiring in 1984. While working in Chatham, he enjoyed working with his students after school in a history club and serving as a merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts.
Mr. Pitcher worked as a tour guide at Lindenwald, President Martin Van Buren’s Home for about 10 years and later at Olana, home of Frederick Church. He was active for many years in his church as a Sunday School teacher, deacon and leader of Bible studies.
He will be remembered for his love of family and friends, his years of teaching children, his devotion to his church family, his service to his country and his love for his savior, Jesus Christ.
He is survived by: his wife, Barbara D. Pitcher; his daughters, Marie Scalzo and Donna (Bill) Kohlerschmidt; granddaughter, Annelore Kohlerschmidt; his brother, William B. (Ruth) Pitcher; several nieces and nephews.
Family will receive friends Monday, November 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home, 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham. Funeral services will be conducted at the Clearview Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, 275 Schodack Drive, Castleton, Tuesday, November 6 at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Ghent Union Cemetery, Ghent.
Contributions in Mr. Picher’s name may be made to Clearview Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, 275 Schodack Drive, Castleton 12033.
For directions or to send an online condolence visit www.frenchblasl.com.
Katherine E. Christensen (1972 – 2012)
HUDSON—Katherine E. Christensen, 40, of Hudson passed away suddenly at home Wednesday, October 31, 2012.
Born July 26, 1972 in Camp Pendleton, California, she is the beloved daughter of Annamae S. (Kelly) Christensen of Hudson and the late Allan L. Christensen.
Ms. Christensen was a medical technician for Taconic DDSO in Valatie.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by her sister, Kelly S. Torchia and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
A calling hour will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, November 3 at the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, followed by services at 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
Visit www.batesanderson to leave a message for the family.
