Jeremy J. Kelly (1980 – 2017)
RED HOOK—Jeremy Jacob Kelly, who was born November 21, 1980 and died January 30, 2017, was a beautiful soul who played guitar like a demon, loved his family and friends with abandon and gave the best hugs in the world.
He was a talented musician and gifted artist. He loved like no other. His brave heart was his greatest strength and his biggest weakness. “He taught us all to love without limits. He taught us to have faith.”
Mr. Kelly allowed his passion and instincts to guide him, to burst out frequently. He was a free spirit who was true to his nature. He lived in the now. The future was an unimportant goal, “he taught us to be in the present.”
Music ran through his veins. It was his wild beast to tame and he loved it. Effortlessly creating acoustic melodies, barefoot, legs crossed with a cigarette in his mouth, “he became the background of our lives.”
Mr. Kelly was a fountain of knowledge being able to point out Venus in the sky and “give you a random movie you just had to see.” He was a bearded bright light, a one-of-a-kind with a gorgeous silly laugh. He was a blessed gift.
Mr. Kelly made everyone feel more alive because he was in their life. He showed people the depths of the sorrow in this world and had a smile that made you forget it. He had a million noteworthy accomplishments that mean very little against the incredible comfort and love he could make you feel.
In his life he knew a lot of loss. His mother, best friend and cousin made it to the other side and he grieved their absence openly and deeply. “We know they are reunited and that he is at last in peace.”
In addition to his father, Kevin Kelly, he is survived by: his sister, Regina Kelly of Red Hook; sister, Rachael Kelly, brother-in-law, Miles Vidor and nephew, Cove Vidor of Philmont; his grandmothers, Mary Kelly of Red Hook and Linda Murphy of Tivoli; his eternal friend, Gabrielle Valenti of Hudson; many aunts, uncles cousins and friends.
A Memorial Mass was held Saturday, February 4, 2017 at St. Christopher’s Church in Red Hook. A gathering and a celebration of his life followed at Murray’s, 73 Broadway, Tivoli.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Wellfleet Preservation Hall, P.O. Box 3024, Wellfleet, MA 02667.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Burnett & White Funeral Homes, 7461 South Broadway, Red Hook.
To sign the online guestbook visit www.Burnett-White.com
Herbert Samuel Parmet (1929 – 2017)
NEWTON, MA—Professor Herbert S. Parmet, 87, formerly of New York City and Hillsdale, passed away January 25, 2017 after a long illness.
He was the loving husband of 68 years to Joan (Kronish) Parmet; beloved father of Wendy Parmet and Ron Lanoue; grandfather to Anna and Daniel Lanoue, and brother of Robert Parmet.
He was a distinguished historian at the Graduate Center of City University of New York and Queensborough Community College; author of eight presidential biographies and histories including: “Jack: The Struggles of John F. Kennedy,” “Richard Nixon: An American Enigma,” and “Eisenhower and the American Crusades.”
Mr. Parmet served as Hillsdale town historian and president of the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society.
His funeral was January 30 at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, followed by a memorial observance at his residence.
Donations may be made to Good Shepherd Community Care, 90 Wells Avenue, Newton, MA 02459.
Lois W. Browning (1923 – 2017)
TROY—Lois W. Browning, 93, of Castleton died Friday, February 3, 2017 at Van Rensselaer Manor.
She was born in Louisville, KY, and earned her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and later attended Columbia University and SUNY Albany.
Mrs. Browning became a chemist for Standard Oil of New Jersey and later a junior high science teacher in the Ichabod Crane School District in Valatie, where she worked for 17 years before retiring. Mrs. Browning was a long-time member of the Greenbush Garden Club where she was the past president and Rensselaer County chairperson.
She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Stanton Browning, Jr.; son, James Browning; siblings, Thomas Williams, Elizabeth Self and Mary Upchurch.
Mrs. Browning is survived by: her daughter, Abigail (Matthew Gande) Browning; two sons, Robert (Linda) Stanton Browning, III, and Christopher B. (Karen) Browning. She was the proud grandmother of Robert, Amber, Katherine, Margaret, Samuel, and Harper, and great-grandmother of Mattye, McKenna, Gage, Emma and Jared. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Monday, February 6 at 7 p.m. at the William J. Rockefeller Funeral Home, Inc., 165 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer. Friends and family are invited to attend her calling hours, Monday 4 to 7 p.m. prior to the funeral.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association NE Chapter, 85 Watervliet Avenue, Albany 12206 or the Greenbush Garden Club, c/o Greenbush Reformed Church, 688 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush 12061.
Norma J. Edsall (1936 – 2017)
HUDSON—Norma J. Edsall passed away January 31, 2017 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
She was born January 31, 1936 in Bath, NY, to Esther and Leslie Edsall.
The family moved to Delmar and she attended Bethlehem Schools from early childhood through high school. She was awarded an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and a master’s from Stanford University.
She served on the dean’s staff at Denison University and then at the University at Albany as director of student residences.
She entered the management training program at the then State Bank of Albany in 1970. She worked as a teller, branch manager and eventually as a human resource specialist at what became Fleet Bank.
Miss Edsall was active as a volunteer in the Austerlitz community through the fire company auxiliary, Spencertown Academy, Town Board and Planning Board and the Austerlitz Historical Society. She also enjoyed reading, music and travel.
Memorials may be directed to the Austerlitz Historical Society or the Austerlitz Fire Company.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the French, Gifford, Preiter and Blasl Funeral Home, 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham. Condolences may be conveyed at frenchblasl.com
Carl L. Schulerud (1933 – 2017)
KEELING, VA—Carl Lewis Schulerud, formally of Malden Bridge, Chatham Center, was peacefully called to the Lord January 2, 2017.
He was born in Washington State October 1, 1933. He graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. His passion was farming, and he was a dairy farmer for more than 30 years. He also raised pigs, goats, beef, rabbits and chickens.
Mr. Schulerud was involved in the Farm Bureau and American Dairy Association. He was also a volunteer firefighter, an assistant track coach for New Lebanon Girls Track Team, a Chatham Bowling League member, and an Eagle Scout. He also served in the U.S. Army as a tank commander. He was actively involved in 4-H and was a 4-H dairy leader.
Mr. Schulerud loved to travel to sunny Florida in the winter time to enjoy the sunshine, the ocean, as well as the warm weather.
He will be remembered for his hearty laugh, his love for the NY Giants and NY Mets. He loved to spend time with his family. He was predeceased by his first wife, Janet Morehouse Schulerud, and his parents, Albert and Freda.
He leaves behind: his second wife, Stephanie of VA; his sister, Joan Chesney of PA; brother, Fred of CO; daughter, Sue (David) Houston of FL; son, Robert (Rosina) Schulerud of GA; daughter, Lori (Andrew) Tillman of NY; step-daughter, Jennifer (Kevin) Perry of NY; step-son, Robert (Marlena) Skrocki of VA; grandchildren, Samantha (Paul) Webber, Malerie Tillman (Jared Bafaro), Chad Tillman, Keelyann (Paul) Burke, Justine (Devin) Iverson and Quin Schulerud; step-grandchildren, Steffanie, Kiersten, Kevin, Jayson Perry, Laci Skrocki, Shelby and Tyler Webster; great-grandsons, Logan and Reid Webber.
A Memorial Service for friends and family will be held February 18, 2017, 11 a.m. at the North Chatham United Methodist Church, 4274 State Route 203, North Chatham.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Columbia Greene 4-H Dairy Program, ATTN: Linda Tripp, CCE Columbia Greene, 479 Route 66, Hudson 12534 (write Donation in memory of Carl Schulerud on the memo line), or Taconic Hills CSD, FFA Education, 73 County Route 11A, Craryville 12521. Make checks payable to Taconic Hills CSD (write Donation for Agriculture Education in memory of Carl Schulerud on the memo line.)
Nora B. Novak (1918 – 2017)
ALBANY—Nora B. Novak, 98, of Valatie died Friday, February 3, 2017 at Albany Medical Center.
Born September 27, 1918 in Blackburn, England, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Alma (Reynolds) Butterworth. Mrs. Novak worked for Universal Match Company in Greenport for 44 years. She was a charter member of the Stuyvesant Falls Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary, a communicant of Church of St. Joseph, a member of the Stuyvesant Senior Citizens and also did volunteer work at Barnwell Nursing Home.
She is survived by: her son, Gary Novak (Patricia) of Stuyvesant; three grandchildren, Michelle McDonald (Shane), Courtney Ryan (Patrick) and Patricia “Trish” Novak (Joseph); eight great-grandchildren, Natalie, Aiden, Colin, Brynn, Makenzie, Eamon, Aleyna and Joseph, Jr.
She was predeceased by her husband, John B. Novak and two brothers, Wilfred and Richard Butterworth.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, February 8, 11:30 a.m. at the Church of St. Joseph in Stuyvesant Falls, with the Reverend George Fleming officiating. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Calling hours will be Tuesday, February 7 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Valatie Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 242, Valatie 12184.