Obituaries Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, April 8, 2010

Paul L. Polansky

GUILDERLAND — Paul L. Polansky was a big man with a big heart.

A civil engineer and a devoted family man, he died unexpectedly at his Guilderland home on Friday, April 2, 2010. He was 72.

“He was the bedrock of stability for his wife, Nelda, and son, Dan,” his family wrote in a tribute. “He knew instinctively how to handle life’s crises and had the strength of purpose to consistently persevere on their behalf.”

At his funeral service on Tuesday, family, friends and co-workers remembered him as a graceful, caring, thoughtful, and accepting man. ”The service was filled with laughter while remembering the different things about Paul,” said Holly Busch, a family friend. “Everyone remembered Paul as a huge person (he was well over six feet tall) with the biggest heart you would ever see. When his son was born, he could hold him in the palm of his hand. The first thing you would notice about him was his size; the next thing would be how comfortable he would make you feel in any situation…Some people you know forever and they don’t make a difference in this world; others you meet once or twice and you cannot forget them. He was that person.”

Born in Albany, Mr. Polansky was the son of Betty (Elizabeth) and Milton Polansky.

He graduated from Hudson Valley Community College, helping with its early construction, and going on to serve 40 years for the New York State Department of Transportation. Although he worked as a civil engineer in several of the DOT’s regional offices and briefly for the department of motor vehicles, the majority of his years of public service were in the DOT’s main-office planning division as a supervising transportation analyst.

“He took pride in producing a quality product and had a remarkable work ethic, rarely missing a day of work,” his family wrote. “In retirement, he thoroughly enjoyed Internet exploration, travel adventures, new dining experiences, swapping tales, and appreciating nature.”

He was the brother of Arnold Polansky; brother-in-law of Patricia and Grady Walker, Donald and Donna Mitchell, and Ian and Sonja Mitchell; and uncle to many, always enjoying visits.

A memorial service was held on April 6 at the New Comer Cannon Funeral Home in Colonie. Burial was at Guilderland’s Prospect Hill Cemetery on Western Avenue.

Memorial contributions may be sent to one’s local humane society or the charity of one’s choice.

Kathryn Palmatier Sisson

BERNE — Kathryn Palmatier Sisson was an Avon lady, and a loving person who cherished her family.

She died on Monday, March 29, 2010, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. She was 87.

“She’s a sweet, loving person,” said her daughter, Lillian Chrysler. “She had kind of a dry sense of humor — almost a sarcastic sense of humor.”

Mrs. Sisson was born on Sept. 28, 1922 in Middleburgh to the late Lewis and Lillian Palmatier.

In addition to her longtime love for crocheting, Mrs. Sisson was an avid bowler, and worked with ceramics years ago.

“And she loved her Florida retreat,” her daughter said. “Every winter, she went to Florida; she was a snowbird. My dad passed away two years ago, and, even after he passed away, my sister, my sister-in-law, and I would take turns going down with her.”

Mrs. Sisson loved to shop, and loved to eat, her daughter went on. She was once the owner and operator of Kate and Lil’s Supperette on Main Street in Westerlo, and she taught Sunday school at the South Berne Congregational Church, where she was long a member.

Mrs. Sisson was also a consultant for Avon for 30 years — “You would say she was the Avon lady,” her daughter said.

“She’d go door to door and sell Avon, and she collected a lot of Avon pieces,” said Mrs. Chrysler. “They used to have all those fancy figurines, and she made sure all us kids had the figurines. And they had mugs for men; she made sure that her husband and her sons had all the mugs and stuff.”

She married her husband of 65 years, Clyde E. Sisson Sr., on Dec. 19, 1943. With him, she had three daughters and a son.

“She’s just a sweet lady,” her daughter said. “What else can I say? I loved her.”

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Kathryn Palmatier Sisson is survived by three daughters: Ida Pratt of Saratoga; Paula Britton of Rensselaerville and Lillian Chrysler and her husband, Roger, of Berne.

She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Christine Sisson of East Berne; her sister, Alverda “Susie” Ploss; and her grandchildren: Kathy, Bernie, Eugene, Scott, Loyal, Howard, and Susie Pratt; Randy Jr., Todd, Tamatha, and Samantha Britton; Clyde III, Spencer, Kevin, Mitchell, and April Sisson; and Roger Jr., Richard, and Robert Chrysler.

She is survived, too, by 35 great-grandchildren, and by nephews and cousins.

Her husband of 65 years, Clyde E. Sisson Sr., died before her, as did her son, Clyde Sisson Jr.; her son-in-law, Randy Britton Sr.; three brothers; and three sisters.

A funeral service was held on Tuesday, April 6, at the South Berne Congregational Church, with arrangements by Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont, followed by interment at South Berne Rural Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the South Berne Congregational Church, 101 Church Rd. Berne, NY 12023, or to the South Berne Rural Cemetery, care of Debra Stalker, 266 Lake Rd., Berne, NY 12023.

Born on September 27, 1910, Mrs. Taylor was the daughter of the late Elizabeth and Joseph Vogel. She was raised in the Guilderland and Albany area, where she, too, raised her family.

After her husband, Harold Lee, died, she moved to California to see her sister, Tress. There she met her second husband, Frederick Taylor. After his death, she moved back to the Guilderland area to be near her son and grandchildren.

Mrs. Taylor moved in with her sister, Frances, and they lived together for 40 years. Following her sister’s death, she moved in with her son and daughter-in-law in Guilderland. She was active with the Guilderland senior citizens’ group and attended on a daily basis.

Mrs. Taylor is survived by her son, James Lee, and his wife, Catherine, of Guilderland. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Michael Lee and his wife, Deborah, of New Scotland; Cynthia Tremonti and her husband, Lawrence, of Michigan; James Lee and his wife, Laureen, of Guilderland; and Jennifer Nichols and her husband, David, of Albany.

She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Laura Tremonti, Taylor Lee, Deanna Lee, and Alec Lee.

Her siblings, Louise, Elizabeth, Joseph, Frances, and Tress died before her.

A spring burial will be at the Saint Johns Lutheran Cemetery on Sand Creek Road at the convenience of the family with arrangements by the Hans Funeral Home.

Mrs. Taylor’s family extends special thanks to the Guilderland senior citizens, Saint Peter’s Hospital, Saint Peter’s Hospice, her friends, family, and especially her son and daughter-in-law, James and Catherine. 

Thomas M. Tubbs

KNOX — Thomas M. Tubbs Sr., a former military policeman and town highway worker, died on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010. He was 60. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.

A spring burial will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 22, 2010 in the Knox Cemetery. 

Mrs. Van Voris was married to her beloved husband, Martin Van Voris, for 60 years. She worked for General Electric for 42 years as a key punch operator. She enjoyed traveling across the country, including two trips to Hawaii, and one to Alaska; she also enjoyed many family trips to Schroon Lake.

Mrs. Van Voris also liked bowling, canasta, knitting, and crocheting. She was an active member of the Gallupville Methodist Church, and the Ladies’ Aid Auxiliary, for which she sold raffle tickets for church suppers. She traveled locally with Berne’s Hilltown Seniors, and one of her favorite things to do was go out and try different restaurants.

“She leaves behind a lifetime of memories and stories. She touched so many with just her beautiful smile,” wrote her family in a tribute.

Above all, Mrs. Van Voris cherished her family. Her family wrote that they will “remember her for her undying love, no matter what.” She showed her love for her family in many different ways, for many different reasons, they wrote. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were precious to her, and she considered them “the apple of her eye.”

“In her later years, these children just lit up her life,” her family said.

Referencing her death on Easter Sunday, her family also wrote, “God has shown that He can do anything, with the birth of a grandson on Easter 36 years ago, and now calling Waunetta home to her final resting place with Him, also on Easter.”

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In addition to her husband, Martin Van Voris, Mrs. Van Voris is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Frederick, and her husband, Ronald; her grandchildren, Sean Frederick, and his wife, Tina, Stacy Moreau, and her husband, Jason, and Kimberly Brennan, and her husband, Todd; her sisters, Whanda Shedina and Wila Gilman; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, April 7, at the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont, followed by interment in the Knox Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gallupville Methodist Church, Post Office Box 33, Gallupville, N.Y. 12073.

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