VOORHEESVILLE — Janice Winters was a homemaker in every sense of the word. She grew vegetables that she canned for her family to eat. She sewed clothes for her children to wear. She even mowed the lawn of her family’s yard.
“Her kids were her life,” said her daughter, Heidi Gran.
BERNE — Mary Eleanor Hill, who lived abroad in the 1950s and who immensely enjoyed her dogs, died unexpectedly at her Berne home on Monday, April 15, 2019. She was 92.
MENANDS — Edward C. Willey, who built greenhouses in Berne that he ran, with his wife, for a quarter of a century, died on Wednesday, March 13, 2019. He was 90.
GUILDERLAND — Denny J. Empie, a star Guilderland High School athlete, went on to be a teacher and coach. He was a devoted son to his mother who lived to be over 100, and a born-again Christian who started the Jesus Soda Survey.
KNOX — Art Ogsbury was described by his wife as “Mr. Wonderful to the World.”
“I told him that all the time,” said Mae Ogsbury. “He was a proud man and a hard worker. He was a smiley man. His handshake was strong; that was his trademark.”
BERNE — Marie Schoonmaker McManama — described by her family as a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend — died on Monday, April 8, 2019, with her family by her side. She was 86.
GUILDERLAND — Ann M. Stressel was a caring person who “made everyone feel like they were the most wonderful,” said her daughters Nancy and Linda. She loved her family above all else and found purpose in giving back to her community, according to her daughters.
