JoAnn Jakiela (1958 – 2017)
STUYVESANT—JoAnn (Van Alstyne) Jakiela, 59, of Stuyvesant passed away July 28, 2017 surrounded by loving family and friends.
Born June 16, 1958 in Hudson, she was the daughter of Kenneth (deceased) and Elizabeth (Cross) Van Alstyne of Stuyvesant. She was also predeceased by grandparents Stanley and Mary Cross and William D. and Gertrude (Doyle) Van Alstyne, and her uncle, William D. Van Alstyne, all of Stuyvesant.
Family was the love of Mrs. Jakiela’s life. She was married to her loving and devoted husband, Kazimierz (Kazmo) Jakiela for almost 31 years and was so proud of her children, Kerstin Jakiela of Saratoga and Kasey Jakiela of Stuyvesant.
She is also survived by: her sister, Sandra (Mike) Myers of Stuyvesant and her cousins, Darla (Richard) Skiermont of Valatie and Bill Van Alstyne of Galway.
She was blessed with an extended, supportive family whom she adored: including her aunt, Arlene Van Alstyne of Greenport; and nieces and nephews, Tyler Myers, Kimberly Myers, Sabrina (James) Svennson and their children, Hunter and Addison; Tiffany (Joe) Zanotelli and their daughter Kaylin, and Lori Fenoff, as well as second cousins, Corrie Shattenkirk, Jill (Mike) Mescia, Sean Shattenkirk, Andrew (Liz) Van Alstyne, Hillary (Nobu) Takahashi, Michael (Mary Ellen) Doyle, and Rick (Teresa) Doyle. She was also loved by numerous extended family members in Texas, Georgia, Ohio, and other areas of the country.
Several special friends brought Mrs. Jakiela much love, joy, and support over the years: Ellen Pellnat, Maureen Maher, Diane Niemann and Joy Bertram; and her “high school crew:” Sue Leader, Jane Hamm, Peggy Knack, Penny Gutto, Bonnie Yager, Linda Yates, and Bonnie Patrick. They enjoyed trips and game nights filled with laughter over the years.
A 1976 graduate of Ichabod Crane, Mrs. Jakiela graduated from Endicott College in Beverly, MA, with a degree in commercial art in 1978. Her first position was with National Legal Supply in Albany, where she served as quality control manager of their Typographix Division until 1990 when she started her family.
While raising her children, she worked at The Independent newspaper from 1990 to 92 and also in the prepress department at Pro Printers in Hudson from 1997 to 2000.
In 1991, she started her own freelance graphic design business and took on her first project of producing the Convention Yearbook for the Stuyvesant Fire Company. This was the start of a successful freelancing business that she continued through the spring 2017. Over the years, she met and worked with many profit and non-profit businesses throughout Columbia County. As one of the highlights of her career, she worked with Mike Gladstone, a book designer from NYC, who became her mentor and friend.
From 2002 until her early retirement in July 2017 because of health issues, she worked at the East Greenbush Community Library as a public relations/marketing coordinator, a position she greatly enjoyed. In 2015, she took on the role of the new farmers’ market manager, and over the next three years, worked to expand and grow the market to be the success it is today.
As a parent, Mrs. Jakiela volunteered at Ichabod Crane as a co-coordinator of the RIF reading and was a member of the PTA. She volunteered for the Crane Acting Troupe and the Booster Club. She was also a volunteer Girl Scout Leader in the Ichabod Crane Neighborhood for eight years.
Mrs. Jakiela battled breast cancer for nearly 19 years, and she walked in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Albany and supported her good friend Sue in Jimmy Fund Walks for cancer research at Dana Farber in Boston. For several years, she was a Reach to Recovery Volunteer, providing support to newly diagnosed patients.
Special gratitude goes to her supportive doctors and nurses and staff over the years in her cancer fight, especially Dr. Janet Gargiulo and Dr. Regina Resta, and nurses Peggy and Nancy who were with her from the start.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service in celebration of Mrs. Jakiela’s life, Sunday, August 6, 4 p.m. at her home, 72 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant. Following the service, everyone is invited to a reception at the Stuyvesant Firehouse. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jimmy Fund Walk, with a memo: Jason and Mo Friendship Fund and mailed to Boston Marathon/Jimmy Fund Walk, P.O. Box 3595, Boston, MA, 02241-3595 or online at jimmyfundwalk.org under Jason and Moe Friendship Fund, or to the East Greenbush Community Library, 10 Community Way, East Greenbush 12061. Arrangements are with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie.
Mary E. Kiernan (1931 – 2017)
PITTSFIELD, MA—Mary E. Kiernan, 86, of Valatie died Monday, July 31, 2017 at Sweet Brook Nursing Home.
Born March 11, 1931 in Albany, she was the daughter of the late Mae L. (Lederhouse) Kiernan.
Miss Kiernan was a graduate of the College of St. Rose in Albany. She was a primary school teacher at Ichabod Crane for many years and also taught in Schenectady and Albany and also with the Association for Retarded Children. She taught classes in art, science and gym.
She was a former sister of St. Joseph of Carondolet.
She is survived by: nieces and nephews, James and Roxanne Ciaccia, Donna and James Reed, Dawn Sullivan and Dana and Tung Cai and many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, Thomas W. and Adelbert R. Kiernan.
Private graveside services will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Valatie. Arrangements are with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie.
William D. Mackey (1954 – 2017)
ALBANY—William David Mackey, 63, of Hudson was called home to be with his heavenly father, Monday, July 24, 2017 with his family members and close friends by his side at St Peter’s Hospital.
He was born July 5, 1954 in Dunn, NC. He attended school in NC, until his early teen years. He then moved to Hudson and graduated from Hudson High School. He worked many years on the railroad. He also worked years at the Columbia County Department of Public Works.
Mr. Mackey was a kind-hearted person. He greeted people with a smile that was contagious. He seemed to take his time about everything he did. So, he was affectionately called, “slow moving Mack” which was later shortened to “slow motion” during his high school years. Years later he became know as “Swilly.” His fame came from the love and charm that he gave away freely to all that came in contact with him.
Mr. Mackey is survived by: his three sons, Joaquim Mackey of Houston, TX, William, Jr., and Isaiah Mackey, both of Hudson; seven grandchildren, Anthony Coffey of Albany, Autumn Mackey and Vivian Mackey of Amsterdam and Iyana Mackey of Hudson, Mason Schemerhorn of Chatham, Isaiah and Jasmine Mackey of Athens; his sister, Alice Faye Hedgepeth; his brother, Howard Mackey, both of Hudson and his brother, Wallace Mackey of Pittsfield, MA; an uncle, Eddie Davis (Betty) of Hudson; one aunt, Bertha Mae Moody of CT; a multitude of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mr. Mackey also left behind his extended family, Dorothy Wirth, who was his partner, companion, lover and friend; his father and mother-in-law, Allan and Phyllis Wirth, who had lovingly adopted him as their own son; his sisters-in-law, Christine Wirth (John) Sejan from Binghamton and Betsy Wirth (Renee Stone) of Hudson.
Mr. Mackey was predeceased by his parents, Melvina and William Mackey; his sisters, Dixie Myrick, Penny Dempsey, Elsie Mackey, Pansy Mackey, Daisy Mackey and Linda Mackey-Hamiliton; and his brothers, Larry and Eddie Mackey.
Memorial services will take place Friday, August 4, noon, at Shiloh Baptist Church, 14 Warren Street, Hudson. A repast will be held downstairs in the church immediately following. The family thanks everyone for the love and support provided at this difficult time. Arrangement are with the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport.