GUILDERLAND — Caroline J. Charon, who worked hard and loved long, died on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, at St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam, NY. She was 65.

Mrs. Charon “faced difficulties that she would not let define her,” her family said. Shortly after the birth of her first child, she began suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, which she would suffer with for the rest of her life, making her love of crochet, crafting, and needlepoint all the more remarkable.

Mrs. Charon was born in Niskayuna on March 31, 1952. She was the daughter of John Pieniazek of Altamont and of the late Doris VanBuren, formerly of Colonie. She was a graduate of Guilderland High School.

Mrs. Charon was, literally, swept off her feet the first time she met Joseph "Jeff" Charon, the man she would marry. Sitting in a restaurant, nursing a broken leg, she was introduced to Mr. Charon by a mutual friend. At the end of the evening, he picked her up and carried her to her waiting ride. They were married on Aug. 31, 1973, a union that lasted 37 years, ending only with his death.

The Charons first settled on Saratoga Lake, where they made lifelong friends, some whom would become godparents to their children. After moving to Guilderland, the Charons kept their home on the lake and would spend summers there.

Mrs. Charon and her husband owned C&J Variety, a video store in Voorheesville, where they also sold power equipment and provided service. Her daughter, Maryann Moses, said she was not afraid to get her hands dirty, and take on some of the smaller maintenance jobs. Mrs. Moses said her mother’s attitude is why she is not afraid to swing a hammer. 

Her parents deeply loved one another and were “a force to be reckoned with,” Mrs. Moses said. They took care of their family and never asked for anything in return. “They were the posterchildren for sticking through everything,” she said. Mrs. Charon told her daughter when she did die, she looked forward to seeing her husband again.

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Caroline J. Charon is survived by her children, Jonathan L. Charon and his wife, Stephanie Ayotte, of Amsterdam, Geoffrey M. Charon of Guilderland, and Maryann Moses and her husband, Eric, of Esperance; her grandchildren, whom she “hopelessly adored,” Cynthia Leonard, Kevin Charon, and Christopher Moses; and 12 siblings, of which she was the oldest, John Pieniazek, Jean Monaco, Kathy Baker, Rosemarie Loucks, Linda Monaco, William Pieniazek, James Pieniazek, Jodie Pieniazek, Lawrence Pieniazek, Genevieve McInTyre, and Michael Pieniazek; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

A celebration of Caroline's life will be held on Friday morning September 8th at 11 am at Bond Funeral Home, Broadway & Guilderland Avenue, Schenectady, NY. A gathering will be held at the funeral home from 10 to 11 am prior to her service.

Inurnment will be in Vale Cemetery with her husband Joseph.

Contributions may be made in Caroline's memory to Rheumatoid Arthritis  Research, Northeastern New York Office, PO Box 38042,Albany, NY 12203-8042  
—SeanMulkerrin