Marlene A. Boomhower

WESTERLO — Marlene A. Boomhower, a mother, grandmother, quilter, teacher, and piano player, is remembered for having a heart that was as welcoming as her home.

She died on Friday, March 23, 2012, with her family by her side. She was 72.

“She loved everybody, and everybody knew it,” said her daughter, Bonnie Ross. “She had a special gift for making everyone feel welcome, and a part of the family. The coffee pot was always on, and lots of people sat around that kitchen table talking, and laughing, and sharing stories.”

Mrs. Boomhower’s son-in-law, Dave Ross, said, “She knew how to practice hospitality…She was a big-hearted woman, with room for all.”

She was born in Albany to the late Leo and Doris Filkins LeBuis.

Frederick “Pete” Bassler, who was married to Mrs. Boomhower’s sister, Janice, before she died in 2008, remembers Mrs. Boomhower as “a great and talented woman,” who was “just interested in people.”

“It’s sad to lose someone like that,” Mr. Bassler said. “They lived on a farm in Westerlo, and the farm was always a busy household, a place where you were welcome. It was just a pleasant place to go, and lots of people congregated there. I was at the viewing Monday night, and there were probably 400 people there, which was a testament to the kind of lady she was, and how well liked she was.”

Marlene was an active member of the Westerlo Reformed Church, where she served as a Sunday school teacher and elder, church pianist, and organist for over 45 years.

While raising her children, she worked as a beautician and piano teacher at home. She was also employed as an account clerk at Owens Corning for many years.

A busy farmer’s wife, Mrs. Boomhower also managed her husband’s trucking business, while being very involved with her children’s and grandchildren’s sports and activities.

“She was always there, rain, shine, or snow,” said her daughter, Diane Carl. “She always cheered them on.”

Mrs. Boomhower volunteered for 14 years at the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District’s 1,000 Book Club reading program.

“She and Roz Moser often talked longer than they worked, but they always joked around that it was OK, because they never got a raise in pay,” said Mrs. Boomhower’s daughter and BKW teacher, Judy Tambasco.

An avid quilter, Mrs. Boomhower kept a journal related to her work.

“She has pictures in there,” said her daughter, Mrs. Ross, “and she described who they were for, and when she made it, or what the occasion might have been, or some anecdotal story that went along with it. So, for every picture, she’s written a little blurb.”

An excerpt from her journal reads, “I started serious quilting when I was 50 years old. I had always thought, ‘Someday, I would like to make a quilt.’ And that year, I made up my mind that, unless I started, that ‘someday’ may never come.”

Thus, a quilting tradition was born, and each quilt had a name.

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Mrs. Boomhower is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Dennis Boomhower, and her children: Bonnie Ross and her husband, Dave; Judy Tambasco and her husband, Donnie; Mark Boomhower and his friend, Julie; and Diane Carl and her husband, Bob.

Also surviving are her cherished grandchildren: Heath Boomhower; Jacob Tambasco; Daniel and Heather Carl; and Joey and Ian Ross.

She is also survived by her aunt, Margaret Filkins; her siblings: Robert LeBuis and his wife, Roberta; Donald LeBuis and his wife, Donna; Charis Cummings and her husband, Dennis; and Dennis LeBuis and his wife, Debbie.

Surviving, too, are her brothers-in-law: Pete Bassler and Merritt Chamberlain; and many nieces and nephews.

Her sisters, Janice Bassler and Diane Chamberlain, died before her, as did her parents-in-law, Edward and Helen Boomhower.

Friends called on Monday, March 26, at A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home in Greenville.  A funeral service was held on Tuesday, March 27, at the Westerlo Reformed Church, followed by burial in the Westerlo Central Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Westerlo Reformed Church, Post Office Box 70, Westerlo, NY 12193.

Condolences may be left online at ajcunninghamfh.com.

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Bernadine Johnston

ALTAMONT — Bernadine “Deane” Johnston, a woman who had a great love for all creatures, died peacefully on Friday, March 30, 2012, at the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital, with her loving family by her side. She was 76.

Mrs. Johnston was born in Albany, the daughter of the late Domenick and Florence Garramone. She moved to Altamont in 1956.

Mrs. Johnston was a “proud graduate” of the Vincentian Institute, wrote her family in a tribute.

She worked as a secretary for the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene; was an office manager for J. J. Newberry’s; and was a secretary for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 166, until her retirement.

“Deane enjoyed being at home, gardening, sewing, and cooking,” her family wrote.

She is survived by her children, Judee Ann Miller, and her husband, Albert, of Delmar, Laura Lawton of Altamont, Kerry R. Johnston, and his wife, Marybeth, of Altamont, Michele Debye-Saxinger, and her husband, Norwig, of Kinderhook, and Paula Grogin, and her husband, Neil, of Latham.

She is also survived by her sister, Maureen Wright, and her husband, William, of Leander, Texas; her grandchildren, Albert Miller III, Randall Miller, and his wife, Rebecca, David Miller, Dana Balejko, and her husband, Conrad, Thomas R. Lawton, Zachary Johnston, Alexander Johnston, Ian Johnston, Maria Debye-Saxinger and Tristan Debye-Saxinger; her great-grandchildren, Cayce Miller and Chloe Balejko; her dear friends, Edward and Margaret Krause, Bertha Pierce, and David, Elfie and Patricia Erickson; and many nieces and nephews.

Her husband, Richard G. Johnston, died before her, as did her brother, Leonard Garramone.

The family would like to extend a special thank-you to Mrs. Johnston’s family physician and friend, Dr. Hedy Migden.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, April 4, at St. Lucy’s Church in Altamont. Interment was in the Prospect Hill Cemetery in Guilderland. Arrangements were by the New Comer Cannon Funeral Home in Colonie.

Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice of Albany, 445 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205.

— Zach Simeone

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Patricia Ann Alexson-Smith