ALTAMONT — Beatrice Joyce Cromme Hildreth — described by her family as a beloved neighborhood mom who welcomed many children into her care over the years — died peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 24, at St. Peter's Community Hospice Inn at a time of her choosing. She was 91.

Known as Bea, Mrs. Hildreth was born Nov. 5, 1923 in Schenectady, the daughter of James Kenneth Cromme and Bertha Flansburg Cromme.

While working at General Electric, she met and married Frank A. Hildreth in 1947.  They lived in Schenectady until purchasing a farm on Brandle Road in Altamont in 1955.  There they raised four sons and worked a successful horse-boarding farm until Mr. Hildreth’s death in 1998.

In Mrs. Hildreth’s early years, she worked for General Electric as a machine operator making airplane parts during the war. 

“Her energy, warmth, generous spirit, humor, wonderful smile and laugh, will be sorely missed,” her family wrote in a tribute. “Among caring for her family, Bea loved to cook, paint, mow the lawn, and care for her beautiful flowers on the farm.

She is survived by her sisters, Pat Cromme, Linda Walters and her husband, Jack; her sons, Douglas and Margaret Hildreth, Brad and Deb Hildreth, Terry Hildreth and Jesse Bishop, Donald and Kim Hildreth; her grandchildren, Marcy LaBallister, and her husband, Scott, Aleasha Weimer and John Shook, Kristie Szawlowski and her husband, Sean, Lauren Hildreth, Sarah Hildreth, Kaylee and Karee Hildreth; her great-grandchildren, Grant LaBallister, Zach and Justin Brink, and Juniper Shook; several nieces and nephews; and caring neighbors and friends.

Her husband Frank A. Hildreth, died before her, as did her brothers, James "Kenny" Cromme, Elizabeth "Betty" Blesser, Milton Cromme, and Richard Cromme.

The family would like to thank Community Hospice for its “excellent care of Bea in her home and at the Inn.”

No services will be held.  Friends and family are welcome to attend a celebration of her life on Saturday, Nov. 7, beginning at 1 p.m. at her house on Brandle Road. Arrangements are by the Fredendall Funeral Home of Altamont. Online condolences may be made at www.fredendallfuneralhome.com.

Donations may be made to Community Hospice of Albany County, 445 New Karner Road Albany, NY 12205.