KNOX —  A religious woman who worked for the post office and, after retiring, helped her elderly friends, Regina Kochem Settle died peacefully on Sunday, March 12, 2017, with her family by her side. She was 91.

She was born to the late Floyd and Regina H. Nicholson Sr. and was raised in Schenectady by her maternal grandparents and her Great Aunt Tress. She spent most of her life on the Settle family farm in the town of Knox. She was the wife of the late Bernard Settle.

Known to her friends as “Jean,” Mrs. Settle worked for over 20 years for the United States Postal Service, retiring from the Altamont branch in 1988. Following retirement, she dedicated much of her free time to helping other elderly friends and relatives with meals and transportation to and from doctors’ appointments.

She was a long-time parishioner of the St. Lucy/St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church, and spent many summers volunteering as a cook at the church’s kitchen and food tent on the Altamont fairgrounds.

“Regina was most fond of her summer nature retreats at the Pyramid Life Center in the Adirondacks, and especially looked forward to hearing the loons on the lake while sitting on the lodge porch late into the night,” her family wrote in a tribute. “She had a passion for classical music, English comedy, and a love of all birds.

“Her children and grandchildren will remember her for her remarkable sense of humor, generosity, open mindedness and of course her love of ice cream,” her family wrote. “She was a fun-loving person who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.”

****

Regina Kochem Settle is survived by her half-brother, Floyd Nicholson, and his wife, Evelyn, of Victoria, Texas; her daughter, Bernadette (née Settle) DeMis and husband, John DeMis; her son, Reed Settle, and Lana; her granddaughters, Shauna Baron, of Gardiner, Montana, Stephanie (née Baron) Siciliano and husband, TJ Siciliano; her precious great-granddaughters, Natalie Mae and Abigail Jean Siciliano and Sierra Coons.

She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Joan Settle, and many nieces and nephews.

Her half-brother Edmond Nicholson died before her.

Calling hours will be held at Fredendall Funeral Home at 199 Main Street in Altamont on Saturday, March 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. There will be a Memorial Mass on Friday, March 31, at 10 a.m. at St. Lucy/St. Bernadette Church at 109 Grand Street in Altamont. “Regina will be laid to rest near her loving husband, Bernard Settle, in the Gallupville Rural Cemetery in the spring,” her family wrote.

Memorial contributions may be made to one of the following: St. Lucy/St. Bernadette Church, 109 Grand St. Altamont, NY 12009; Pyramid Life Center, 44 Highland Ave., Albany, NY 12203; or Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Ave., Menands, NY 12204.