Obituaries Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, March 4, 2010
Helen K. Cusack
GUILDERLAND CENTER — Helen K. Cusack, a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, at Our Lady of Mercy Live Center. She was 91.
Mrs. Cusack was born on June 22, 1918, the daughter of the late Phillip and Bertha Klett. She supported the war effort during World War II while working at the Watervliet Arsenal. She later worked as a cashier for the Guilderland School District.
She was a member of the ladies auxiliaries of the Guilderland Center Fire Department, and the Altamont Veterans of Foreign War. She was also a member of the Home Bureau, the NCHA, and the Altamont Seniors. Mrs. Cusack was a parishioner of St. Lucy’s Roman Catholic Church, where she was involved in the rosary society.
“She was also know for being a professional garage-sale-shopper,” wrote her family in a tribute.
Helen K. Cusack is survived by three daughters, Peppie Harnett, and her husband, David, of East Berne, Phyllis C. Mullany, and her husband, Tom, of Malta, and Eileen Billings, and her husband, Steve, of Grafton; seven grandchildren; and, five great-grandchildren.
Her husband, J. Harry Cusack, died before her, as did her son, James Cusack Jr.
A spring burial will be held at the convenience of the family in Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Guadalupe Unit of Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, 2 Mercy Care Lane, Guilderland, N.Y. 12084.
Frances M. Moshier
GUILDERLAND — Frances M. Moshier, an optimistic woman who loved life, died on Thursday, Feb. 25, at home with her family by her side. She was 92.
Mrs. Moshier was born on Feb. 19, 1918, the third of seven children, to David and Amanda Peterson, of Bertrand, Neb. She moved to Stamford, N.Y. in 1930, where she graduated from Stamford High School in 1936; she also graduated from Mildred Elley.
She met her husband, Michael Joseph Moshier, in high school, but, according to her daughter, Catherine Hasbrouck, the couple did not marry until Mr. Moshier returned from World War II; they were wed on Sept. 16, 1945.
Mrs. Moshier worked as a bookkeeper for her husband’s Latham plumbing and heating business, Bickford and Moshier, for a decade, but then she enjoyed staying home with her three children, Mrs. Hasbrouck said. The Moshiers lived in Guilderland for 35 years; the couple also resided in Dennis, Mass., and Port Charlotte, Fla.
The Moshiers enjoyed traveling as a couple, their daughter said, and went all across Europe and the United States. Two of her mother’s favorite places were Kentucky, because she loved the horse country, and Venice, Italy, which she declared the most beautiful city she had ever seen.
Another of Mrs. Moshier’s passions was playing bridge, according to Mrs. Hasbrouck. She said her mother loved the mental stimulation of the card game, and sought out a bridge group wherever she lived, including one she played with for years in Altamont.
She also enjoyed reading, swimming, and golf, and was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Altamont.
As a mother and grandmother, Mrs. Moshier was kind and caring, and just loved being in the company of the children, her daughter said. Every summer Mrs. Moshier would invite her grandchildren to spend a week with her in Cape Cod, Mass.
“She was an optimistic, outgoing, fearless woman. Everything was a challenge, not something to fear. She loved life,” said her daughter.
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Frances M. Moshier is survived by three children, Michael Moshier, and his wife, Terry, James Moshier, and his wife, Mary Ellen, and Catherine Hasbrouck, and her husband, Paul; three sisters, June Millward, of Stamford, N.Y., Beverly Blaine, and her husband, Matthew, of Staten Island, N.Y., and Beulah Stevens, and her husband, William, of Athens, N.Y.; two brothers, Clifford Peterson, and his wife, Gloria, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Royce Peterson, and his wife, Janet, of Massena, N.Y.
She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Melanie Whiteley, and her husband, Chris, Jennifer Koehlinger, and her husband, Michael, Jeremy Hasbrouck, and his wife, Julie, Michelle Portell, Lauren Anderson, and her husband, Devin, Katie Moshier-Suhr, and her husband, Nick; eight great-grandchildren, Erin, Emma. Preston, Alexander, Owen, Isaac, Natalie, and Haley; and, many nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Michael Joseph Moshier, known as Joe, died before her, as did her brother, Stanley Peterson, her grandson, Captain Timothy Moshier, and a grandson-in-law, Benjamin Portell.
A funeral service was held on Tuesday, March 2, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, in Altamont, with interment in Prospect Hill Cemetery, in Guilderland. Arrangements were made by the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont.
Memorial donations may be made to the Community Hospice of Schenectady, 1411 Union St., Schenectady, NY 12308.
Barbara J. Pollock
KNOX — Barbara J. Pollock was a loving, compassionate, stay-at-home mother amid her 30-year career as a nurse.
She died after a long illness on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, at her home in Knox, surrounded by her family. She was 88.
“She was a very different person, and she was a perpetually happy person,” said her son, Chuck Pollock. “She didn’t want to hear bad news, and, if she did, she’d put a spin on it that was more uplifting.”
Ms. Pollock’s daughter, Elaine Martin, shared the same sentiment as her brother.
“She was just so quiet and compassionate; caring; considerate; she never really got mad at anybody, and, when she did, she never raised her voice,” said Ms. Martin. “She pretty much was the disciplinarian in the family, unless she couldn’t handle it, and then my dad did, and he was very strict. So, you knew you were really in trouble when it got to my dad.”
Ms. Pollock was born on May 27, 1921, in Massena, N.Y. to the late Frederick and Sarah Patrie. In 1939, she graduated from Cathedral Academy, after which she entered the Albany School of Practical Nursing. After working for a short time at Brady Maternity Hospital, she went on to work in pediatrics at Albany Medical Center.
But the bulk of her career was spent at the Guilderland Center Nursing Home, where she worked for 30 years, and did so alongside her daughter.
“I worked with Mom since I was 16 at the nursing home in Guilderland; it was easy to do just because she was such an inspiration to me,” her daughter said. “She absolutely loved it; she loved the geriatric patients; she was so tender and loving. She could have just taken any one of those patients home with her. She just loved it, and I feel that way today.”
Outside of working and being a mother, Ms. Pollock loved to shop and go bowling, her daughter said, and, for more than 40 years, she played in the Jolly-Mixed Bowling League at the old Weaver’s Lanes in Altamont. Her son, a sportswriter, added that she was an avid sports fan.
“Mom loved the Dodgers, and I became a big Dodgers fan,” said Mr. Pollock. “My mom and I would spend a lot of time talking about that stuff. Our relationship was a lot different than a lot of mothers and sons. My dad wasn’t a big sports fan, and he was busy working three jobs, so my mom became the person I talked about sports to.”
Ms. Pollock was a family-oriented person, her daughter said, which she often showed by supporting her grandchildren.
“I have three sons who are into all sorts of activities, and she would go to the games and all that,” said her daughter. “She was just very supportive, and she would go anywhere they were having any sort of activity — a play, a choir, a sports event. She never missed anything.”
Ms. Martin describes her mother as her “constant companion.” She recalls family trips to York Beach in Maine.
“She loved going to Golden Rod and buying taffy,” her daughter went on. “And, she really enjoyed going to all the outlets up there, like L.L. Bean in Freeport.”
Much of their time in Maine was spent at the beach, her daughter went on.
“She would spend the whole day on the beach, just sitting in the sun and relaxing,” she said. “She absolutely loved it up there.”
Mr. Pollock couldn’t recall a single instance in which he or his sister were disrespectful to their mother — “And it wasn’t because she was some sort of ogre,” he said. “We just thought that highly of her.”
Barbara Pollock was constantly happy, both of her children said, and she instilled that in them.
“It was just a different time growing up, and it was a privilege to have a mom that was a full-time mom,” Mr. Pollock said. “I always consider myself the happiest person I know, and I think that attitude is very much a reflection of Mom.”
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Barbara J. Pollock is survived by her children: Charles Pollock Jr. and his wife, Vickie; and Elaine Martin.
Also surviving are six grandchildren: Charles “Chip” Pollock III; Jamie Pollock; Krissy Williams; George Martin Jr. and his wife, Jen; Chad Martin and his wife, Stacey; and Scott Pollock and his wife, Mary Carrillo.
She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren: Quinn Pollock; Catherine Hawes; Maddox King; Zachary Lonergan; and Zachary, Tyler, Ryan, Noah, Hailey, Nathan, and Alea Martin.
She is survived, too, by family members Melody Pollock, Deb Reynolds, Barb Henderson, and Noel Hatley.
Her husband, Charles Pollock Sr., died before her, as did her son-in-law, George K. Martin Sr., and her brothers, Frederick Patrie and James Patrie.
A funeral service was held on Wednesday, March 3, at the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont, with interment to follow at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Colonie. Friends called at the funeral home on Tuesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Altamont Rescue Squad, 767 Route 146, Altamont, N.Y. 12009.
— Zach Simeone