George J. Brightly (1938 – 2014)
PITTSFIELD, MA—George J. Brightly, 75, of Route 82, Ancram passed away Wednesday March 12, 2014 at Berkshire Medical Center.
He was born July 7, 1938 in Livingston, a son of the late Walter H. and Margaret (Svingala) Brightly.
Mr. Brightly proudly served his country with the United States Marine Corps. He was employed as a diesel mechanic with the Hudson Valley Cement Line and later with Halpin Transportation in Lee, MA, until his retirement in 2002.
Mr. Brightly was a member of the local Teamsters Union, the National Rifle Association and was an avid hunter. He raised chickens and rabbits, enjoyed working in his large vegetable garden and had a stand where he sold the fruits of his labor.
On April 3, 1963 in Livingston, he married Jackie Kilmer Brightly.
Surviving are: his wife, Jackie of Ancram; his children, Tammy Lougheed (Kyle) of Ancram, George Brightly, Jr., (Lisa) of Ancram, Michael Brightly (Anna) of Humboldt, IA, and Lisa Brightly Mortenson (Eric) of Gallatin; his beloved grandchildren, Nicole, Kyle, Lindsay, Candace, Michael, Eva and Erin; great-grandchildren, Emmaline and Bjorn; his siblings, Walter, Joseph and Delia, along with several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a sister, Margaret and a brother, Timothy.
Friends are invited and may call at the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 8063 State Route 22, Copake, Sunday, March 16, 2014 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Monday, March 17, 2014, 10 a.m. at the funeral home with the Reverend George Brennan of Our Lady of Hope Parish officiating.
Interment with military honors will follow in Cedar Park Cemetery, Hudson.
To send an online condolence visit www.peckandpeck.net.
Tekla Makuch Pelesz (1932 – 2014)
GHENT—Tekla Makuch Pelesz, 81, of Hudson died peacefully at Whittier Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, Thursday, March 13, 2014.
She was born April 22, 1932 in Krakow, Poland, to Emilian and Julia Makuch.
She had three brothers, John, Simon and Peter. She married Harry Pelesz, November 12, 1950. They moved to the United States in 1963 and settled in Hudson to raise their family. She worked as a seamstress most of her life and retired in 2005 from the Emsig Manufacturing Corporation.
She and her husband were avid gardeners and enjoyed growing beautiful roses and dahlias, as well as an abundance of fresh vegetables especially garlic, tomatoes and cucumbers. She enjoyed sewing and also enjoyed cooking for her family and friends, especially traditional Polish favorites like pierogies and galumpkis. She was happiest when surrounded by her husband, children and grandchildren at the dinner table.
She was proud of her Ukrainian heritage and shared the traditions with her family. Many of them, such as the celebration of “Little Christmas” or the Epiphany are still lovingly celebrated by her family now. She had a strong faith and remained very active in her local church, Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church.
She was predeceased by her husband of nearly 50 years, three brothers and her beloved grandson, Brett Pelesz.
She is survived by: three sons and daughters-in-law, John and Nancy (Davidson) Pelesz of Poughkeepsie, Peter and Ann (Lezette) Pelesz of Livingston and Daniel and Jennifer (Nabozny) Pelesz of Valatie; grandchildren, Melissa Chan of Rochester, Kimberly Zeleznik of Poughkeepsie, Stacy Pelesz of Hawthorne, NJ, Nicholas and Christopher Pelesz of Valatie; four beautiful great-granddaughters, Aurora, Analiese and Adelynne Chan and Josephine Zeleznik; niece, Deborah Peles of Claverack and nephew, Stephen Pelesz of CT.
Calling hours are Tuesday, March 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bates and Anderson Funeral Home, Hudson. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, March 19, 10 a.m. at St. Nicholas Church, Hudson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 206 Union Street, Hudson 12534.
Theodore L. Howes, Jr. (1929 – 2014)
HUDSON—Theodore “Ted” L. Howes, Jr., of Spencertown faded quietly into the night March 2, 2014 at the Firemen’s Home.
Born December 20, 1929, he was the son of the late Theodore L. Howes, Sr., and May Wolfe Howes of Spencertown.
A well-known and well-loved figure in Spencertown, he was born in Hudson and raised at Clatter Hall.
He attended Chatham High School, was a Spencertown volunteer fireman and served honorably as an Army engineer during the Korean War attaining the rank of technical sergeant.
He was a graduate of the Cobleskill College of Agriculture and Technology with a degree in horticulture. He married the former Joan E. Medlyn of Spencertown and they raised nine children in Columbia and Rensselaer counties.
A builder, an artist, a farmer, a nurseryman and landscaper, he was also the proprietor of Clatter Hall Nurseries, where his knowledge and love of plants was highly sought and respected. He loved his orchids and his advice on their care and propagation was legendary. He was a poultry fancier and a bird-watcher and enjoyed the calm contemplation of the natural world. During his retirement he assumed the duties as superintendent of the Spencertown Cemetery. His dry wit, wry humor and quiet intellect will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He was a true Renaissance man.
Mr. Howes is survived by: his sister, Marilee H. Lobdell of Spencertown; his seven children, Theodore Lindly Howes, III, of Santa Cruz, CA, Richard W. Howes of Spencertown, Suzanne Howes of Mesa, AZ, Timothy W. Howes of Averill Park, C. Andrew Howes of Sand Lake, Daniel W. Howes of Spencertown and Julie A. Howes Ulmer of Chatham, their spouses and partners; a niece and nephew; also eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren who were the apple of their Poppy’s eye.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan M. Howes; his children, Peter R. Howes and Christine A. Howes and his companion, Catherine (Kate) Osterhoudt.
The family expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the nurses, staff and management of the Firemen’s Home in Hudson for their kindness and compassion.
Mr. Howes found rest and peace there. At Mr. Howes’ request, there will be no formal services. Interment will be in the family plot at the Spencertown Cemetery in the spring. “Rest Easy Friend, Twill Be Later, Bye ‘e Bye “
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home.
Barbara Ann Fix Klugo (1936 – 2014)
LIVINGSTON—Barbara Ann Fix Klugo, 78, of Livingston quietly passed away Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at her residence after a long and courageous fight with illness. Born February 15, 1936 in Hudson, she was the daughter of the late William Henry and Marguerite (Balder) Fix of Livingston.
Mrs. Klugo had a special place in many hearts and will be deeply missed by all.
Surviving are: her children, John (Deane) Klugo, Susan (Randall Delany) Buber, Robert (Rebecca) Klugo; grandchildren, Jonathan Buber, Julie Klugo and Lindsay Klugo; her brother and sister-in-law, Robert a
nd Joan Fix and sister-in-law, Eileen Fix, along with several nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her grandson, Daniel Buber and her brothers, John Henry Fix and William R. Fix.
Mrs. Klugo was employed by the Columbia County Department of Social Services as a senior social welfare examiner. She retired in 1996 after 21 years of service. After her retirement, she enjoyed being the neighborhood computer tech, tending to her flower gardens, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and spending the summer and fall on her family farm overseeing the sales for pick-your-own fruit at the Fix Brothers Fruit Farm. She was very popular by all who came.
A memorial service to honor Mrs. Klugo’s life will be held at Yadack-Fox Funeral Home, 209 Main Street, Germantown, Saturday, March 22 at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, her family requests memorial donations be made to the Community Hospice of Columbia/Greene, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12414.
The Klugo and Buber families express their heartfelt gratitude to friends, family and her hospice team that spent so much time helping and caring for her throughout her illness. They will be forever grateful for their kindness and compassion as was she.
Andrew Wyda (1921 – 2014)
HUDSON—Andrew Wyda, 92, a lifelong resident of Greenport, died Wednesday March 12, 2014 at Community Hospice in Columbia Memorial Hospital.
He was born on his family’s farm in Greenport, March 21, 1921 to the late Wasyl and Nellie Wyda.
He was an owner/operator of Wyda Farms, a fruit and dairy farm in Greenport with his brothers and sister, and was a member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hudson.
Mr. Wyda was a founding and life member of the Becraft Pumper Company #2 in Greenport as well as a member of the Columbia County Trappers Association.
He is survived by many cousins in the Drahushuk, Kitsock and Nytransky families. He was predeceased by his brothers, John and Metro Wyda, as well as his sister, Anna Wyda.
Funeral services and Panakhyda prayers were Saturday, March 15 at the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport, with Father John Jedrychowski officiating.
Burial in the family plot at Cedar Park Cemetery, Hudson followed. Memorial contributions are requested to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 29 South Second Street, Hudson 12534.
Margaret Fontaine (1925 – 2014)
HUDSON—Margaret “Peg” Fontaine, 89, a lifelong resident of Hudson, died Wednesday March 12, 2014 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born in Hudson, January 24, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Margaret Cronkhite.
She was a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy and worked for the Orchard Dress Shop and the Yankee Drummer in Greenport as well as the Scovill Shop in Hudson.
Mrs. Fountaine was a communicant of Holy Trinity Parish/ St. Mary’s Church in Hudson and was a member of the Catholic Daughters Court Columbia #248, and previously was a member of the Mothers Guild of St. Mary’s Academy.
She is survived by: her son, Frederick L. and (Nancy) Fontaine of Hudson; daughters, Joanne M. Fontaine of Hudson and Patrice Fontaine of Albuquerque, NM; sister-in-law, Veronica Fontaine; niece, Carol Houlihan; nephew, John Corapi and several cousins.
Mrs. Fontaine was predeceased by her husband, Louis D. Fontaine, Jr.; daughter, Mary Lou Fontaine and her sister, Sister Margaret Cronkhite.
Calling hours will be Sunday, March 16 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Sacco McDonald Valenti Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, March 17, 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Parish, 429 East Allen Street, Hudson with the Reverend Winston Bath officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Park Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are requested to: Sisters of St. Joseph, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham 12110 or to Holy Trinity Parish, P.O. Box 323, Hudson 12534.
