BERNE — Belva Boyden, a lifelong Berne resident who was active in her community, died on New Year’s Day at Albany Medical Center. She was 81.

Ms. Boyden was one of the few Boydens left in the area. She and her family were active in the local church, school, and other community groups, and Ms. Boyden was always a welcome presence in both her family and community.

“The town and her home were very important to her,”said her nephew, Timothy Spence.

Born on Feb. 10, 1935, to Donald and Margaret Hemmett Boyden, Ms. Boyden grew up next door to the First Reformed Church of Berne, where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir.

Her father taught in Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School for many years and was active in the school’s 4-H group and the Foxenkill Grange. Ms. Boyden was a member of The Grange as a teenager. She also enjoyed visiting her grandparent’s farm in Crown Point growing up.

Ms. Boyden graduated from Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School in 1953, and attended Albany Business College before graduating in 1954. She did clerical work for the New York State Treasury Department of Taxation and Finance for 35 years, keeping an apartment in Albany for 20 years while still visiting her parents at the family home in Berne on the weekend.

After retiring, Ms. Boyden worked as a cook at the Serendipity Nursery School in Voorheesville. She continued to live in her family home with her parents, taking care of them after she retired.

“She and her mother were kind of a team,” said Mr. Spence.

Although she never had any of her own, Ms. Boyden loved children, especially her niece and nephews.

“She was definitely kind of young at heart,” said Mr. Spence. “She was kind of a youthful spirit.”

Ms. Boyden would see her family for the holidays and would take trips with her family to places like Shaftsbury, Vermont. Mr. Spence says every summer he and his family would spend a week on the oceanside with her and a week at her home in Berne. She would draw and play games with her visiting nieces and nephews.

“I always looked forward to her visits,” said Mr. Spence. “She was always lots of fun.”

Ms. Boyden enjoyed picnics and car rides in the country, as well as gardening, cooking, and baking. She also enjoyed her group of friends, going shopping or seeing shows in New York City with them, and would host a party on New Year’s Day for them.

“She was just very social,” said Mr. Spence.

Ms. Boyden’s family is especially grateful to Pastor Robert Hoffman of the First Reformed Church of Berne. Active in her church, Ms. Boyden was a very spiritual person, Mr. Spence said.

“She had a strong moral sense,” he said. He described how their family would joke that, if a cashier gave back 50 cents too much in change, his aunt would go out of her way to return that money.

“She will be dearly missed,” said Mr. Spence.

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Belva Boyden is survived by her sister, Barbara, and brother-in- law; her nephews Brian, and his wife, Michelle, Russell, Matthew, Timothy; her niece, Julene; her six grandnieces and grandnephews; and her aunt, Clare Hemmett of Voorheesville.

Donations may be made to the First Reformed Church of Berne, 1664 Helderberg Trail, Berne , NY 12023. A memorial service will be held at the church on May 20.

— H. Rose Schneider