Dorothy Helen Stalker (1928 – 2014)
ALBANY—Dorothy Helen Stalker, 85, of Greenport died Thursday, October 9, 2014 at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Born December 11, 1928 in Hudson, she was the daughter of the late Cresent and Mattie (Bell) Bolton.
Mrs. Stalker worked at Charter Supply in Philmont. She also worked at various jobs in Houston, Texas, where she lived for 15 years, returning to Hudson in 1994.
She was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Willard H. Stalker.
Mrs. Stalker is survived by: five children; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; her brother and three sisters-in-law.
Services are private and at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are with the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson.
Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences.
Lisa Hoffman (1976 – 2014)
HUDSON—Lisa Marie Durant Hoffman of Germantown passed away unexpectedly October 8, 2014.
She was born in Poughkeepsie, December 7, 1976, the daughter of Gale and Eva Durant.
She married the love of her life, Joseph Hoffman, June 19, 1999. They lived much of their married life in Germantown, raising their two young boys, Lucas and Evan.
Mrs. Hoffman was a graduate of Columbia-Greene Community College. She worked as an office manager for J. Naugle Trucking.
She loved her family and spending time with them.
Mrs. Hoffman was predeceased by her mother, Eva Durant and her brother, Joseph Durant.
She leaves behind: her husband, Joseph Hoffman; her sons, Lucas and Evan Hoffman; her father, Gale Durant; her sister and brother-in-law, Rita and Larry Bombard; her sister, Brenda Durant; her brother and sister-in-law, Gale and Lorrie Durant; her sister, Patricia Durant-Salo; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many close friends.
There was a celebration of life in Mrs. Hoffman’s honor at the Reformed Church of Germantown, Sunday, October 12. Arrangements were with the Yadack-Fox Funeral Home, Germantown.
Robert B. Cole (1935 – 2014)
LAKE KATRINE—Robert B. Cole, 79, of Germantown died Wednesday October 8, 2014 at Ten Broeck Commons Nursing Home.
Born August 17, 1935 in Bergenfield, NJ, he was the son of the late Raymond and Thelma (Hennecke) Cole.
He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Mr. Cole retired from the New York State Department of Transportation after working more than 25 years as a maintenance man. Following his retirement, he became self-employed as a tile installer.
Mr. Cole was an avid fisherman and hunter and a softball player for many area teams.
He was a 50-year member of the Germantown Fire Company, a member of the Germantown Sportsmen’s Club and the Jennings-Willets American Legion Post in Germantown.
Survivors include: his wife, Luann (Lasher) Cole, whom he married in Tivoli, October 4, 1957; his son, Jeffrey Cole of Vooheesville; a daughter, Shannon Reece of Saugerties; sister, Beverly Kilgour of Colorado; grandchildren, Andrew and Emily Cole and Cameron Reece.
He was predeceased by his sister, Joan Conrad; nephew, Bruce Kilgour and niece, Bobbi Rae Millus.
Services were October 11 at the Yadack-Fox Funeral Home in Germantown.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Alzheimer’s Association Northeastern New York Chapter
4 Pine West Plaza, Suite 405, Albany 12205
Hope Oakes (1979 – 2014)
BOSTON, MA—It is with great sadness that her family announces the loss of Hope Oakes of Kinderhook, age 35, October 3, 2014. She fiercely battled myelodysplasia, a form of leukemia for the last seven months.
She was the loving wife of Joshua Oakes, and an amazing mother of their two children, Cassandra and Tanner, the joys of her life and the reasons she fought so hard.
She was predeceased by her father, Larry Speenburgh, to whom she was very close and shared many special times.
Mrs. Oakes leaves behind: her mother, Sandy Speenburgh of Germantown; her three siblings, Shannon (Scott) Haraldsen, Trevor (Kristin) Speenburgh and Carrie (Chris) Ferrer; her parents-in-law, Jerome and Regina Oakes of Springfield; her brother-in-law, Jarrett (Richanna) Oakes. She was a wonderful aunt of five and leaves many family and friends around the world, who will miss her beautiful smile.
A 1997 graduate of Germantown Central School, Mrs. Oakes earned her AAS at Columbia-Greene Community College, a BA at SUNY Oneonta and MBA at Empire State College. She worked in financial administration at Taconic Farms for almost 10 years until shortly after her diagnosis.
Mrs. Oakes was a planner, an incredibly hard worker and never stopped giving of herself. Her endless “can do” positive attitude inspired and uplifted many. She always said “it is what it is” and never looked back. She was funny and real and a whiz at planning spectacular parties for her children, which will be remembered by the entire family.
Calling hours took place October 10 at the Yadack-Fox Funeral Home in Germantown. Interment will be scheduled at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations for the children to be made to: Oakes Children’s College Fund at TrustCo Bank, 2929 U.S. Highway 9, Valatie 12184 or Cassandra and Tanner Oakes at the Leatherstocking Federal Credit Union, 24 Glen Avenue Cooperstown 13326 or on Hope for Hope at www.gofundme.com.
“The world will certainly never be the same without Hope, but we will all keep shouting Go Hopey fight and know she’s smiling back at us.”
David Shawn (1917 – 2014)
CANAAN, CT—“It is with deep and heavy sadness” that his family announces the death of David Shawn, who passed away peacefully in the early morning of October 9, 2014 at the age of 97.
He spent his last few weeks at Geer Rehabilitation and Nursing in Canaan, CT, and was previously living with his family in Hillsdale.
Mr. Shawn is survived by: his two daughters, Lisa Shawn of Lake Worth, FL, and Amy Shawn Doty of Hillsdale and his son-in-law, Douglas Doty. He also leaves behind his loving granddaughters, Sierra Vraback of New York City and Jenna Doty, of Baltimore, MD, who were the light of his life; and several nephews and nieces to whom he was very devoted.
Mr. Shawn was born in Toronto, Canada, March 9, 1917 and moved to New York City, with his family, as a young teen.
He attended Stuyvesant High School in New York, and served as a sergeant in the Army Air Corps during World War II, stationed in the Pacific.
He married his true love, Pearl, in 1950, who predeceased him; they were married for 50 years. They traveled extensively, experiencing the cultures of Europe, Russia, South America, Mexico and China, Canada and most all regions of the United States.
He loved to play tennis, plant his organic garden and feed the wild birds. He loved books and was an avid reader. His quiet way and gentle humor belied a fierce and lifelong commitment to the preservation of the natural world, the pursuit of human rights, personal choice and global peace.
In honor of his decades-long fervent call to action on environmental issues, and climate crisis in particular, memorial contributions may be made in his name to an environmental organization or initiative of one’s choice.
The family plans a private memorial next spring.
Arrangements are with the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, Copake. To send an online condolence visit www.peckandpeck.net.
