Archive » February 2019 » Obituaries

Catherine A. Maikoff

Catherine A. Maikoff

ALTAMONT — Catherine A. Maikoff, who grew up in the family florist business and loved flowers all her life, died peacefully at home on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. She was 92.

Florence May Friebel

Florence May Friebel

Florence May Friebel — a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother — of North Sewickley Township, Pennsylvania, died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, at Beaver Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was 90.

Born Nov. 17, 1928, in Western Springs, Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Merton Leo and Julia Augusta Vincent.

Paige Parker

Paige Parker

VOORHEESVILLE — Family was the center of Paige Parker’s world; she loved nothing more than watching her two sons, her “true pride,” compete in athletics. She died on Friday, Feb. 15, 2018. She was 48.

Joan A. Becker

Joan A. Becker

KNOX— Joan A. Becker, a devoted mother who spent nearly all her life in the town of Knox, died on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, after a two-year battle with cancer.  She was 76.

Her son, Duane Becker, said she was a thoughtful and caring person.

“She would think of others first, then herself,” he said

William J. Spence III

William J. Spence III

VOORHEESVILLE — William J. Spence III, a master of the hammered dulcimer who helped revive the folk instrument in the 1970s, died on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, with his family at his side. He was 78.

Rita E. Hesler

Rita E. Hesler

GUILDERLAND — Rita E. Hesler “was a proud, dignified person — very intelligent, very supportive of her boys,” said Mark Hesler, the eldest of her three sons.

She died peacefully on Sunday morning, Feb. 10, 2019, at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, surrounded by her three sons. She was 93.

Ella E. Armstrong

Ella E. Armstrong

ALTAMONT — Ella E. Armstrong was a woman with deep commitments — to her long-time work as a dental hygienist teacher in the Guilderland schools, to her church, to her fire department auxiliary, and to her family. She died on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019. She was 94.

Nancy Worthley Thomas

NEW SCOTLAND — Nancy Worthley Thomas, longtime resident of New Scotland, loved books and had many close friends. She died peacefully on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. She was 71.

Michael J. Tymchyn

Michael J. Tymchyn

WRIGHT — Michael J. Tymchyn, who liked to paint and to build model ships, died at home on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. He was 58.

He was born in Schenectady on Nov. 21, 1960 to the late Martin and Patricia Tymchyn. He was raised in Altamont and attended Guilderland High School.

Garrett Joseph Aldershoff

Garrett Joseph Aldershoff, whom his family described as a gentle and humble man, was a World War II veteran and a career truck driver. He died peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. He was 96.

Ruth Geier Roemer

Ruth Geier Roemer

EAST BERNE — Ruth Geier Roemer lived out a “classic love story” during her 75-year marriage to James W. Roemer Sr. She died “from a broken heart,” her family wrote, on Jan. 27, 2019, ten days after her husband’s death. She was 94.

“It was time for them to reunite and continue their very special love story,” her family wrote.

Garry Allen VanIderstine

Garry Allen VanIderstine

BERNE — Garry Allen VanIderstine had a heart for animals and his family and hands for hard work. After battling cancer, he died at his brother’s home in Westerlo, surrounded by his family, on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. He was 66.

“He was very funny and had a sarcastic personality,” said his daughter, Alicia Lomio.

Craig Michael Thomas

Craig Michael Thomas

NINILCHIK, Alaska — Craig Thomas “accomplished all the things that he wanted to accomplish in life,” said his sister, Kelly Best. He died on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. He was 59.

Allan V. Kotmel

Allan V. Kotmel

GUILDERLAND — Allan V. Kotmel, a long-time Guilderland School Board member who worked for the state Teachers’ Retirement System, died peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 76.