ALTAMONT — Beatrice R. Rucinski was a devoted mother known for her kindness.

“She was always trying to do for others ….,” said her son, Daniel Rucinski. “She was very, very giving; very kind; very pleasant.”

Mrs. Rucinski died on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, at her Altamont home. She was 90.

Born in 1932 in Argyle, New York, she was the daughter of the late Carson and Isabel Bennett.

Her devoted husband of 53 years, Peter A. Rucinski, died in 2008.

She worked for New York Telephone for many years, before becoming a homemaker to take care of her family and her daughter’s needs.

“My mother devoted her life to integrating my sister into regular classes,” said Daniel Rucinski of his sister, Sandra.

The family moved from Clifton Park to Altamont in 1976 because of the Guilderland school district’s excellent program for the deaf, Mr. Rucinski said, noting that his sister went on to the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Mrs. Rucinski enjoyed square dancing with her husband and they would travel to dance where the best callers were, said Mr. Rucinski.

“They didn’t have a lot of money,” he said, but his parents used what they had after his father retired to travel to far-flung places, including California, Hawaii, and Australia.

Mrs. Rucinski also liked going to garage sales, crafting, researching family genealogy, gardening, and writing letters to family and friends.

She looked after elderly relatives, sending letters and packages, her son said.

Mrs. Rucinski was also an animal lover and enjoyed her furry companions, Bella, Hope, and Luna.

“Beatrice was known as being a caring and generous soul,” her family wrote in a tribute. “Everyone has fond memories of Bea and her kindness — a sweet woman who took a friendly interest in everyone and never had a mean word to say about anyone.”

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Beatrice R. Rucinski is survived by her son, Daniel; her daughter-in-law, Kathy; her daughter, Sandra; her grandchildren, Kara, Katrina, Aaron, Joseph, Keri, David, and Michael; and by other relatives and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her calling hours on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at New Comer Cremations and Funerals, at 343 New Karner Road, in Colonie.

All are invited to attend her funeral Mass on Friday, Feb. 10, at 11 a.m. at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church at 3040 Hamburg Street in Rotterdam. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Colonie.

Memorial contributions in honor of her granddaughter may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 1757 Central Avenue, Suite 102, Albany, NY 12205 or top jdrf.org.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer