GUILDERLAND — Betty Marie Cropsey, a mother of five and grandmother of eight, was a champion speed skater and dedicated church volunteer. She died peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, with her family at her side. She was 90.

She was born in Schenectady on Jan. 24, 1926, to Michael and Josephine O’Neill. She graduated from Mount Pleasant High School and was a champion speed skater, competing at Lake Placid.

She worked for a short time at General Electric and, in 1951, she married Donald F. Cropsey.  They moved to Guilderland and raised five children.

Some of her happiest moments were the summers spent at Caroga Lake. Mrs. Cropsey volunteered for decades at her beloved St. Madeleine Sophie Church.

She is survived by her children, Mary Lynne Webster and her husband, Don, son Donald and his partner, Norah Murphy, Carol Jolly and her husband, Ed, William Cropsey and his wife, Martha, Daniel Cropsey and his wife, Natalie; and eight grandchildren, Ben, Jessica, Christopher, Aiden, Dylan, Jason, Rebecca, and Julia.

Her husband of 33 years, Donald F. Cropsey, died before her as did her brother, William O’Neill, and her sister, Virginia Hesler.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 9:15 a.m., from the Demarco-Stone Funeral Home at 5216 Western Ave. in Guilderland, followed at 10 a.m. by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Madeleine Sophie Church at 3500 Carman Road. 

Calling hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Online condolences and memories may be shared with the family at demarcostonafuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Madeleine Sophie Church, 3500 Carman Rd. Schenectady, NY 12303.