Paul E. Butcher (1931 – 2017)
HUDSON—Paul E. Butcher, 85, of Valatie died Thursday, January 12, 2017 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born April 13, 1931 in Albany, he was the son of the late Paul E. and Hazel (Beatty) Butcher, Sr.
Mr. Butcher was a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard from 1949 to 1961 and was employed as a tool and die maker at Southco in Menands. He volunteered for Meals on Wheels for many years and was also a Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader in the area. He was an avid motorcycle enthusiast and enjoyed camping, boating, fishing and was always ready for some kind of adventure. Mr. Butcher was very dedicated to his family and will be forever missed.
He is survived by: five children, William Butcher (Robin) of Kinderhook, Thomas Butcher (Carol) of Castleton, Susan Butcher (Bill) of Stuyvesant Falls, Nancy Pleickhardt (Jon) of Schoharie and Margie Butcher (Rick) of Ghent; a sister, Dolores Hart-Toomey (Neal) of Albany; five grandchildren, Jordan, Levi and Seth Butcher, Kyle and Eric Ofiesh and one great-grandson, Cameron Ofiesh.
He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret P. “Peggy” Butcher, his grandson, Shawn Butcher and great-grandson, Anthony Ofiesh.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, January 16 at St. John the Baptist Church, Valatie, with the Reverend George Fleming officiating. Burial followed in St. John’s Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Valatie Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 242, Valatie 12184 or The Community Hospice of Columbia / Greene, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12414. Arrangements were with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie.
Audrey S. Glum (1923 – 2017)
SALISBURY, CT—Audrey Stuber Glum died peacefully, surrounded by her family January 11, 2017 at Noble Horizons.
She was born in 1923 in Madison, New Jersey, to Mae and Frederick Wedel.
She married the great love of her life, Alfred Stuber, in 1941. Together, they had four children. He died in 1967.
In 1972, she moved to Copake Falls, where she became an active member of her community. She was a member of the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society, the Copake Falls Women’s Fire Auxiliary, and the Copake Zoning Board. As a member of the Garden Club, she consistently won blue ribbons for her beautiful floral arrangements. She had a keen eye for antiques and owned the Country Corner Antiques store in Hillsdale. She was a congregant of the Copake United Methodist Church.
She leaves: her children, Gary, Donald, Janis and Susan; her grandchildren, Erin, Jules, Noah and Timothy; her great-grandchildren, Sofia and Jack.
She had an inspired and creative soul and a real love for life. She will be deeply missed.
A celebration of Mrs. Glum’s life will be held in the spring.
Kenny Funeral Home has taken care of arrangements at 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT.
Sean D. Murry (1977 – 2017)
HUDSON—Sean D. Murry, 39, of Germantown died Thursday, January 12, 2017 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born November 11, 1977 in Rhinebeck, he was the son of Bonnie McAlister and stepson to Ron McAlister.
He was self-employed as a carpenter and auto mechanic. He was known to those close to him as a “jack of all trades” as there was literally nothing that he couldn’t fix. He enjoyed painting and drawing and was a talented artist. He enjoyed camping, spending time with animals, spending time with his family and barbecuing (as long as he didn’t have to eat the BBQ sauce). He was a fan of dirt bikes, ATVs, and anything with a motor. He was smart, resourceful, capable of anything and was taken far to soon.
He was a loving son, brother, father and boyfriend. Surviving are: his mother, Bonnie McAlister; stepfather, Ron McAlister; girlfriend, Rebecca Noaman; brother, Victor Wack; sister, Sara McAlister and daughter, Hailey Murry.
His absence will be deeply felt and his presence will be forever missed. Calling hours are Friday, January 20, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Yadack-Fox Funeral Home, 209 Main Street, Germantown. Following cremation, inurnment will be in the Reformed Church Cemetery, Germantown.
Condolences may be expressed at yadackfox.com
Evelyn Vazac (1921 – 2017)
NEW CONCORD—Evelyn Irene Ferguson Vazac, master of flaky pie crust, cook of extraordinary pot roasts, creative fixer of life’s problems, expert worrier, and beloved by many generations, died peacefully in New Concord, Friday, January 13, one month shy of her 96th birthday.
“Fergie, Evy, Ebby, Mom, Nana, Nana G” was born in Mount Vernon, Saturday, February 12, 1921, a birthday she was to share with her first son.
The seventh child of Thomas Joseph and Lula Ruby Ferguson, she grew up roller skating on sidewalks, attending the First Baptist Church and reading library books. The Great Depression shaped her work ethic and frugality.
Graduating from high school at 16, she became a telephone operator to help support her family, and volunteered as a blackout air raid warden during World War II. On September 7, 1943, she married Pvt. Alexander F. Vazac, Jr., a handsome redheaded Marine from the Bronx. They moved to Red Rock in 1946, and except for a four-month adventure in Tucson, Arizona, lived in the Chatham area for the rest of their lives, celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary in 2003, shortly before Mr. Vazac died. When they would travel they would always return to their home convinced that they lived in the most beautiful part of the world…… for both of these city kids, Chatham was “God’s country.”
Besides raising her five children, born over 20 years, Mrs. Vazac kept the books for Jack Coxon’s weekly livestock auction, served as PTA president, was an East Chatham Fire Company Auxiliary member, worked as clerk for Mr. Vazac when he was Justice of the Peace for the Town of Chatham—hosting and witnessing many weddings, was active at St. Peter’s Church in Spencertown, and managed the business end of Chatham Steel, Mr. Vazac’s metal fabrication company. She was an English as a Second Language volunteer, and was also involved in the local branch of Habitat for Humanity.
Amateur dramatics under the direction of Francis Weaver, bowling with her team, playing bridge with her lady friends, supporting Stephen Gitto’s music program at the high school, attending jazz evenings with her husband all over New England, enjoying Tanglewood concerts with June Blake, partaking in Friday afternoon gin and tonics at her dear friend Dorothy O’Hare’s, these were the highlights on Mrs. Vazac’s calendar through the decades. She loved people and music and reading, and kept her strong faith to the very end. In her later years, when slowed down by macular degeneration, she adapted to listening to books on tape through the Northeastern Association of the Blind, a fact to which the local mail carrier can attest.
She will be missed by: her four children, Barbara Ligon of Wrentham, MA, Nancy Jackson of East Chatham, Allyson Vazac of Camphill Hudson and Rusty Vazac of East Chatham. Her fifth child and their adored brother, Andrew, died in 1996. Four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren from Ohio to Hong Kong and many nieces and nephews will also miss her hugs and humor.
She always left the hall light on for her family. “We now know it was a beacon of love.”
A memorial service will be held Monday, February 20, 2017, 1 p.m. at St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany, 301 Washington Avenue, Albany 12206.
Arrangements are with the Wenk Funeral Home, 21 Payn Avenue, Chatham.
Shirley Perry (1930 – 2017)
PHILMONT—Shirley Lorraine Perry, 86, died January 17.
She was born August 11, 1930 to Stewart and Essie (Huddleston) Almstead.
She lived most of her life in Philmont and graduated from Philmont High School in 1948. She liked to tell stories of being the school band’s baton majorette and a basketball cheerleader. After school she worked at the Ideal Cleaners in Hudson, prior to marrying her husband of 58 years, David Perry from Troy. They lived briefly in Rochester where Mrs. Perry worked at Bausch and Lomb, meeting her life-long friend Joyce Koslowski Trumble. Around 1960 Mr. and Mrs. Perry returned to the area, first living in Coeymans Hollow, then back to Columbia County permanently, living in Mellenville since 1968.
She was a housewife, and taught Sunday School for many years for the Second Reformed Church of Claverack in Philmont, of which she was a lifetime member. She enjoyed the music of Dean Martin, Elvis and Julio Iglesias. She enjoyed time with her children and grandchildren, and was an avid animal lover, making sure to have food out on her porch for the squirrels and birds.
She was predeceased by her parents; brothers, Stewart Almstead and Kenneth Almstead; her grandson, Bradley Weaver and her nephew, Stewart Almstead.
Surviving are: her husband, David Perry; children, Rebecca Martin and her husband Chip, Maj. Aaron Perry, USAR and his wife Christine; her grandchildren, Kylie Weaver, Carolyn Weaver, Carson Weaver, Tyler-Kin Perry (Mike Cook) and Ian Perry; two nieces, Marcia (Almstead) Brandow and Shirlanne (Almstead) Bazemore; her dog, Rusty and lifelong friend of 80 years, Dorothy Allen.
The family thanks the staff of Whittier Place, Pine Haven Skilled Nursing and Community Hospice for all their support over the past two years of her illness.
Visitation will be at the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home, 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham, Thursday, January 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a short prayer service at 6:45 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, 111 Humane Society Road, Hudson 12534 or Community Hospice, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12414. Condolences may be conveyed at frenchblasl.com.
Thomas Shanahan (1952 – 2017)
SCHODACK LANDING—Thomas Shanahan, 64, of Schodack Landing died Monday, January 16, 2017 at his home.
Born June 20, 1952 in Bay Shore, he was the son of the late Thomas Shanahan and Margaret (O’Connor) Cannon of Bay Shore.
Mr. Shanahan was a specialist in government relations and communications. He was also an ardent supporter and volunteer for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind.
Besides his mother, he is survived by: his wife, Kathleen (McNamara) Shanahan; three brothers, Kevin Shanahan of New York City, Brendan Shanahan of Hauppauge, Peter Shanahan of Columbus, NC; several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be held Thursday, January 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie. In lieu of flowers, direct donations in Mr. Shanahan’s name to: The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind; 371 East Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown 11787.
Neal W. Halloran (1941 – 2017)
HUDSON—Neal W. Halloran, 75, of Hudson passed away unexpectedly, Friday, January 13, 2017.
Born October 21, 1941 in Hudson, he was the son of the late Francis and Frances (Kaczanowcke) Halloran.
Mr. Halloran was a graduate of Hudson High School and the New York State Teachers College at Oneonta. He was a devoted English teacher in the Hudson City School District and a faithful member of St. Mary’s Church in Hudson.
He is survived by: his brother, Ronald (Cathy) Halloran of Poughkeepsie; his niece, Jennifer Halloran of Poughkeepsie; his nephew, Ryan (Jill) Halloran and their sons, Luke and Cade of Norman, OK, and several cousins.
Mr. Halloran was a thoughtful and humorous man who led a quiet and dignified life. He held a special place in the hearts of his family as a devoted son, brother, uncle and great-uncle. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.
Visiting hours are Thursday, January 19, 4 to 6 p.m. at the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, January 20, 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 429 East Allen Street, Hudson.
Interment will be in Cedar Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences.