Elizabeth A. Meltz (1935 – 2019)
STOCKPORT—Elizabeth A. McLaughlin Meltz, 84, of Stockport passed away October 12, 2019.
She was born May 29, 1935, a proud native of Inwood in north Manhattan. The daughter of Myles and Elizabeth (McCabe) McLaughlin, “Liz” will be remembered as a wonderful mother to her two children, Frances Meltz and Joseph (Phronsie) Meltz. She is also survived by: her sister-in-law, Ilene McLaughlin; numerous nephews and nieces; special friends, William Brown, C. Nicholas Cozzolino, Sr., Alice Engel and Ernest Waldman, and Charles and Susan Kelly Engel.
Ms. Meltz was predeceased by: her parents; her brother, Myles McLaughlin, Jr.; sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and Martin Kennedy and sister, Alice Theresa.
While her wit and wisdom will be sorely missed here, Ms. Meltz and the rest of the Vermilyea Avenue gang will be partying on the other side.
A Memorial Mass will be held Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 1 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, 1820 Route 9 in Stuyvesant Falls. Visitation with the family will begin at noon preceding Mass. Inurnment will follow in Cedar Park Cemetery in Hudson. Memorial donations may be made to Columbia-Greene Humane Society. Arrangements are with the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson. Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences.
Elizabeth A. Rider (1928 – 2019)
GERMANTOWN—Elizabeth “Anne” (York) Rider, age 91, of Germantown passed away October 19, 2019 at her residence.
She was born January 6, 1928 in Oneida County, a daughter of the late Henry “Royce” York and Helen (Clark) York.
She is survived by: her sister, Mary Katherine “Kay” (York) Kelley. Mrs. Rider graduated from Canastota High School in 1945 and graduated with a degree in home economics from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 1949. She later completed additional graduate work in education at Syracuse and Cornell Universities to become a certified teacher.
In the summer of 1952, she moved to Germantown to become a home economics teacher for the Germantown Central School District. During that same year, she met Robert “Bob” Bruce Rider, a local fruit farmer and World War II veteran. The two wed December 27, 1952. The couple had three children, all of whom were raised and educated in the close-knit Germantown community. The couple remained life-long residents and owners of the Rider Fruit Farm. In 2014 she was predeceased by her husband of 61 years.
Mrs. Rider will be remembered most as a warm, loving mother and (great) grandmother. The smell of a woodstove and a fruit pie baking in the oven will forever bring to mind cherished memories of her and the comfort and warmth of the home she created. Over the years, she attended many sports games, school concerts, dance recitals, parties, graduations and weddings, always beaming with pride for her family’s accomplishments. Mrs. Rider loved spending time with her grandchildren; engaging in stimulating conversations about past and present experiences, imparting her skills of knitting, sewing, or baking, with love and patience at all times. As a home economics teacher in Germantown since 1952, Mrs. Rider touched the lives of many.
She also enjoyed maintaining her flower and vegetable gardens, reading, shopping in Hudson, sharing a meal on her porch, and keeping in touch with family and friends through phone calls and emails. She made sure every person who visited her house felt comfortable and at home. The hugs, waves and blowing kisses at the door at every visit will be missed by many.
In addition to her sister, Kay, Mrs. Rider is survived by: her three children: David (Kathleen) Rider of Hyde Park, Richard (Renee) Rider of Coxsackie and Martha Rider of Balston Spa; her seven grandchildren, Kathleen (Marko) Cvitkovac, Colleen (John) Cielo, Rev. David Rider, Elizabeth Anne Rider, Ricky (Arlene) Rider, Erin Rider and Dr. Jeannine (William Hurley) Rider; six great-grandchildren and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.
A funeral service will be celebrated Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 11 a.m. from Christ Lutheran Church in Germantown. Services will be presided over by her grandson, Fr. David Rider.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Arrangements are with the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson. Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences.
Jerome A. Okonski (1931 – 2019)
CHATHAM—Jerome A. Okonski passed away peacefully at the age of 88. A veteran, master chess player, avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman, he retired as an electrical engineer from AT&T Longlines. He was predeceased by his mother, Antoinette and father Henry.
He is survived by: his son, Arnold Okonski and his wife Sandra; his daughter, Elizabeth Tyski and her husband Lester and their children Barbara and Stephanie; his daughter, Donna Peterson and her husband John.
Family will receive friends at the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home, 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham, Friday, October 18 from 4 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, send donations to Community Hospice of Columbia and Greene Counties. Condolences may be conveyed at frenchblasl.com.
William E. Cooper (1945 – 2019)
KINDERHOOK—A celebration of life for William E. Cooper who died Tuesday, September 24, 2019 will be held at the Carolina House, 59 Broad Street, Kinderhook, Saturday, October 26, 2019 from noon to 3 p.m. with a remembrance given at 1 p.m. A complete obituary ran in the October 3, 2019 issue.
