VOORHEESVILLE — Loretta Whalen, one tough lady, died suddenly on Saturday, March 8, 2025 from complications of influenza.

Born at home in Watervliet in July 1925, she was the third child of Phillip and Rose (née Dean) Beeler.

“Her early years were not the happiest,” her family wrote in a tribute, “as her mother died when she was only 12 and her father’s remarriage was difficult at best, but she often told funny stories of travelling over the Menands Bridge to attend Catholic Central High in Troy and sometimes getting ‘caught’ by the Army walking the walls of Watervliet Arsenal on the way home with her best friend Loretta.

“After graduating in 1943, she attended Pratt University in New York City, studying art and continued her love of fine art throughout her life. 

“After returning to the area, she worked initially for a dentist and then for Christian Brothers Academy Albany in the mid-1950s. While working for the dentist in the late 1940s, she decided to make an epic road trip across the country to California, but the dentist wouldn’t give her the time off so she left an ‘I quit’ note on his desk and headed to California. She remembers they had to cross the desert at night so the car wouldn’t overheat.

“She was an avid skier in the early years of skiing in the region and an early member of the Albany Ski Club where she met many of her long-time friends and where she actually met her husband, Don, on a summer junket. They were wed in April of 1957 and were happily married for 52 years before Don’s passing in 2009.

“They bought an old house in New Salem in 1959, two weeks before Dean, their first son, was born. Just in time to put him in the one dust-free room as they started renovating the 1840s house over the next few decades. Andy, their second, was born two years later.

“After the boys reached middle-school age, she returned to the workforce as the secretary for the Bethlehem School District department heads, retiring from the district in the late ’80s. Along with skiing, the Whalens enjoyed many years sailing as their summer pastime, initially after joining the Mayfield Yacht Club on Great Sacandaga Lake in 1970 and, in the mid-’90s, on Champlain.

“Loretta also travelled to Europe in later years. One of her other passions over the years was quilting with a local group, some of her pieces winning awards.

“Well into her 100th year and sharp as a tack, she still maintained her own apartment in a senior complex in Latham and enjoyed her days out shopping in the community van along with visiting neighbors in the building. If you asked her the secret to living a long life, she would tell you, ‘A good glass of red wine, dark chocolate, and daily stretches.’

“One tough lady, very opinionated, and usually right, you didn’t mess with ‘The Nana,’ but she was such a caring person, always interested in what you were up to. She is missed already.”

****

Loretta Whalen is survived by sons, Dean (Kelly) and Andy (Nancy) Whalen; by her grandchildren, Justine, Kelsey, Elizabeth, and Chris (Anya) Whalen; by her sister-in-law, Justine “Big J”; and by many nieces and nephews, in particular Carol (Mike) Behrman who was such a friend and confidant for many years.

Her husband died before her, as did her parents and  her siblings Ruth Campbell and Frank and Tom Beeler.

At her request, there will be no calling hours. A celebration of her life will transpire in the summer.

Memorial contributions may be made to Food Pantries for the Capitol District, 32 Essex St., Albany, NY 12206.