Obituaries Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, November 17, 2011

HILLTOWNS — Susan Stringer was a court stenographer, a lover of horses, and compassionate mother.

She died on Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, at Albany Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family, co-workers and friends. She was 56.

Mrs. Stringer was born in Stanford, N.Y., on Nov. 9, 1955. She graduated from Shaker High School in 1973. She was also a long time member of the American Legion Auxiliary unit 977 in Altamont.

She worked as a legal assistant for her stepfather, J. Richard Williams, and most recently worked for attorneys Sean Flaherty, Jeff Cohen, and Kevin O’Brien.

“She was a devoted mother, and always put her family first,” her family wrote in a tribute.

Throughout her hospital stay, her daughter, Joyce, a registered nurse at Albany Medical Center, and her son, Richie, rarely left her side.

Mrs. Stringer loved living in her Victorian home in the Helderbergs, her horses, and spending time in Newcomb, N.Y., where she could relax, enjoy a good book, and spend time with family and friends, her family wrote.

She received a certificate of completion in heavy equipment and a commercial driver’s license from the Capital Region Board of Cooperative Educational Services Career and Technical School in Schoharie. She enjoyed operating heavy equipment on her property in Berne-Knox, her family said.

“Sue was an exceptional person,” her family wrote. “She had a compassionate and giving heart, and was there for anyone in need of help.

****

Mrs. Stringer is survived by her mother, Joyce Tryon Williams, and her stepfather, J. Richard Williams; her children, Joyce Lanier and Richard Stringer; her sister, Teresa O’Neill, and her partner, Terrence O’Brien; her brother, Mark Tryon, and his wife Sheila; and her brother, Rex Accurso, and his wife, Diane.

In addition, she is survived by her sister-in-law, Mary Murphy, and her husband, Rene Cooper; her brother-in-law, Lowell Stringer, and his wife, Linda; her sister-in-law, Brenda Stringer; her brothers-in-law Paul Stringer and Stacy Stringer, and his wife Amy.

She is also survived by her nieces: Tonya LaRose, and her husband, Dan; and Stena Swanson Auger, and her husband, Brian; along with her nephews: Joey Helms; Ryan Murphy, his wife, Jill; Brendan Murphy, and his wife, Danielle; Daniel Carlton, and his partner, Diana; Lowell Stringer Jr., and his wife, Anne Marie; Aaron O’Neill, and his son, Aiden; Daniel Accurso; and Eric Accurso; as well as Gabrielle and Kaelyn Stringer.

She is also survived by her cousins, Marie Beartchie and Lana Fennessy; and her uncle and aunt, John and Diane Tryon.

She is survived, too, by her lifelong friend, John Moore.

Her brother-in-law, Jimmy Stringer, died before her.

Her children wish to express their deepest appreciation to Sean Flaherty, Jeff Cohen, and Kevin O’Brien, for their kindness and support during this difficult time.

The family also wants to extend its heartfelt thanks to Dr. Schaeffer, her oncologist; Dr. Napier, her pulmonary doctor; Dr. Chandra, her radiologist, and Maggie from critical care unit, as well as Kim, a nurse who was a co-worker and close friend of Joyce, and stat nurses Liz, Kathleen, and Salle.

“Their compassion and concern for Sue was truly appreciated,” her family wrote.

A celebration of Mrs. Stringer’s life will be held between 2 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont.

Memorial contributions may be made to a fund that will be established at SEFCU for her children, Joyce and Ritchie. Donations may be made to the Susan Stringer Memorial Fund care of Mary Murphy, 6 Sonja Lane, Malta, NY 12020, or to the American Cancer Society for lung cancer research.

SCHENECTADY — Charles T. Button, a veteran and an educator, died on Nov. 12, 2011, at Ellis Hospital. He was 87.

Mr. Button was born on Feb. 13, 1924, to the late Arthur E. and Julia (née Marcy) Button, in Syracuse.

He grew up in Chittenango, where he attended Chittenango Central Schools, and then went on to earn his bachelor of science degree in teaching at Cortland State Teachers’ College.

Mr. Button began his career as a science and physical education teacher, and later earned his master’s degree from Cornell University in school business administration. He was principal in the South Otselic School District and the Moravia District, and superintendent of schools in the Medina School District.

He finished his career as a bureau chief for the state’s Department of Education, retiring in 1985.

He also served in the United States Army, in the Air Corps, from 1943 to 1946.

Mr. Button was a proud recipient of the first Honorary Life Membership of the New York State Transportation Association.

He was a gifted basketball player, having served on many championship teams in high school, college, and the Army Air Corps; he was elected to the State University of New York College of Cortland Hall of Fame.

He was a member of the American Legion, past president of the Guilderland Lions Club, a Rotarian, and also held office as Master of his Masonic Lodge.

His wife, Eleanor Button, whom he married on April 19, 1949, died before him, on Nov. 16, 2005.

Mr. Button is survived by his son, Arthur Button, and his wife, Margaret; his daughter, Julie Button; his granddaughter, Rebecca Button; his step-granddaughters, Christine Tice and Catherine Rogers; and his step-great-granddaughters, Margaret and Janet Rogers.

Calling hours will be held at the Fredendall Funeral Home, at 199 Main St. in Altamont, today, Nov. 17, from 3 to 7 p.m. A funeral service will be conducted on Friday, Nov. 18, at 9:30 a.m., at the funeral home. Interment will follow in the Scott Union Cemetery in Scott, N.Y.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Guilderland Lions Club, 3867 Carman Road, Schenectady, NY 12303.

Charlotte Tubbs

KNOX — Charlotte Tubbs, a beloved wife, loving mother and grandmother, died suddenly on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. She was 73.

Mrs. Tubbs was born in Petersburg, Va. on Sept. 11, 1938, daughter of the late Robert L. and Evelyn Webster. She moved to Knox in 1961, and married Lewis Tubbs Sr. in 1963.

She was a waitress at The Golden Fox and Turf Inn for many years. She was actively involved in the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Little League as treasurer for over 10 years. “Charlotte loved crocheting and making homemade chocolates, as well as gardening,” her family wrote in a tribute. “She was very devoted to her family and friends. She was an extremely generous, outgoing hardworking woman. Always willing to do or give whatever she could to make things better for others.

“Exceptionally proud of her youngest granddaughter Danielle, she loved nothing more than watching her play volleyball and softball.”

Mrs. Tubbs is survived by her husband of 48 years, Lewis Tubbs Sr.; her three daughters; Kathy VanWormer and her husband, Leon, Pam Raynsford and her husband, Dave, and Tammy Krueger and her husband, Thomas. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Donnie Filkins and his wife, Theane; Lisa Brown and her husband, Sakima; Nicole Greklek and her husband, Mike; Stacy Zappia and her husband, Jason; Heather Travis; and Danielle Krueger, as well as her great-grandchildren, Kierra and Alana Brown and Kaiden Piantanida.

Surviving siblings are Buddy Webster of North Carolina, Harry Webster of Florida, Nancy Schulze of Georgia, and Tommy Webster of Florida. Her son Lewis Tubbs Jr. died in August of 2007, and her brother Robert Webster also died before her.

A private burial will be held at the Knox Cemetery today, Nov. 17, at 10 a.m. Arrangements are by the Fredendall Funeral Home of Altamont.

Michael Cootware

NEW SCOTLAND — Michael Cootware, who took care of others before himself and knew how to tell a joke, died on Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Mass. He was 59.

Mr. Cootware wanted to put off his entrance to the hospital by a day, against his doctor’s recommendation, because he had vegetables in the back of his car that he wanted to deliver to needy families, said his wife, Carol Dottino Cootware. He would often collect food and clothes from his Clarksville community and distribute them to families in need, she said.

“He would give his last dollar to someone if they needed it,” said his wife.

What first struck her about Mr. Cootware when they met in high school was that “he was just very kind and considerate,” she said, “very giving.”

The couple married after high school and Mr. Cootware maintained his job at Conrail in Selkirk, where he was a freight conductor and brakeman. He worked there for 24 years and retired in 1993.

Throughout his life, Mr. Cootware shared his love of cars and racing with those around him, bringing his wife to the racetrack as a teenager and, recently, spending Saturday nights there with his daughter. He was on a pit crew at the Lebanon Valley Speedway for J.C. and Keith Flach. He also followed NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) racing — his favorite driver was Tony Stewart, who he once met.

He and his wife would often spend the weekend at the track in their motorhome, which he also liked to take to Lake Champlain to go fishing. That was his favorite spot to go, but he once traveled to Long Island on a fishing trip and brought home a mako shark.

“He was one of a kind,” said his wife, who marveled at his generosity. He donated his organs to science, she said, and that was important to him. Of his sense of humor and kindness, she said, “It was just in his nature.”

****

Mr. Cootware is survived by his wife, Carol Dottino Cootware, and their children, Shawn Cootware and his wife, Barbara, of Carlisle and Ashley Cootware of Clarksville. He is also survived by his parents, Clayton and Marjorie Felter Cootware of Feura Bush, and by his siblings, David Cootware and his wife, Cheryl, of Feura Bush and Kimberly Walton and her husband, William, of Feura Bush, as well as his grandson, Samuel Cootware and several nieces and nephews.

A service of prayers and remembrance will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Reilly & Son Funeral Home in Voorheesville with calling hours from 4 to 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 440 New Karner Rd., Albany, NY 12205 or to the Diabetes Association, 2 Pine West Plaza, Albany, NY 12205.

— Saranac Hale Spencer

Harriet Francis Lajeunesse Warner, who devoted her life to her family and the teachings of Christ, died on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Albany County Nursing Home. She was 87.

Born in Whitehall, N.Y., on Aug. 3, 1934, Mrs. Lajeunesse was the daughter of a dairy farmer and a schoolteacher — Rosario and Sarah (Scott) Lajeunesse. She grew up in Waterford and Raymertown, graduating from Lansingburgh High School in 1943.

On May 26, 1951, she married the late Harold S. Warner in Troy’s St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church. The couple spent their early years in Troy and Mrs. Warner “enjoyed sharing her childhood memories with her own children,” her family wrote in a tribute.

In the mid-1950s, she and her family moved to Fort Plain, where they lived until 1971, when they moved to Coxsackie.

Mrs. Warner “considered Troy to be her true home,” her family wrote, and she returned there in 1995 to live with her daughter, Susan Himes.

Mrs. Warner is survived by her children, Mary Ann Martenec and her husband, Joseph, of Scotia; Susan Himes and her husband, Frank, of Cohoes; Lawrence and Daniel Warner of Albany; and Patrick Warner of Athens, N.Y. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Edward Knier; Lynn Hassy and her husband, Kareem, of Albany; Haily, Tayler, Hannah, and Lauryn Warner, of Athens; and her great-grandchildren, Kasandra, Christofer, and Kareem.

She is also survived by her siblings, Pauline Walsh, of Niskayuna; Veronica DeRuscio, of Staford, Va.; Francis (Frank) Lajeunesse, of Bennington, Vt.; and George Lajeunesse, of Clifton Park, N.Y.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Her husband, Harold S. Warner, died on Nov. 13, 1981. Her baby daughter, Paula Jean, died before her, as did her sister, Florence Lajeunesse Hogan, and her brothers, Eugene, Wilfred, Paul, Gerard, Joseph, and Bernard.

A mass of Christian burial was held on Nov. 16 at St. Lucy’s/St. Bernadette’s Church in Altamont with interment in the Knox Cemetery. Arrangements were by the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

[Return to Home Page]