ALTAMONT — Long-time Altamont resident, Ruth O. Serafini, who was proud of her heritage and had deep roots in Altamont died peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013. She was 91.
She was the only daughter of Milton J. Ogsbury and Bertha Kilian Ogsbury.

“She was a very, very strong, independent lady,” said her only daughter, Joann Serafini-Ross of Saint Helena, Calif. “She was very funny. She had a dry and sharp wit.”

Ms. Serafini was particularly proud of her heritage and its roots in Altamont’s local history, where her family is well known under her maiden name of Ogsbury, said her daughter. As a hobby, Ms. Serafini enjoyed tracking the family’s genealogy.

As a member of the Helderberg Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Ms. Serafini could trace her linage back eight generations, to some of the first European settlers to arrive in America. She held many positions in the organization and truly enjoyed being a part of it, said Mrs. Serafini-Ross.

Ms. Serafini had a long-time relationship with her loving fiancé, Rufus Burlingame, and had many wonderful friends surrounding her up until her death. 

She graduated from Altamont High School, working at The Altamont Enterprise when she was a young woman and helping her uncle, Howard Ogsbury, who was an owner of the newspaper. Ms. Serafini went on to work at General Electric and then spent many years working at The New York State Conference of Mayors, where she was in charge of the organization’s logistical planning. 

Though she loved all animals, Ms. Serafini had a special fondness for cats and often volunteered to work with shelters to help stray and abandoned felines.

Ms. Serafini was a skilled piano player, taking lessons for 14 years. She enjoyed traveling, especially to places with warm weather and a beach, such as Cape Cod, MA, and to visit her daughter in California, said Mrs. Serafini-Ross.

She also enjoyed knitting, baking, chocolate, and fashion.

“She always looked and very put together,” said her daughter.

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Family and friends are invited to calling hours at the Fredendall Funeral Home, at 199 Main Street, in Altamont on Tuesday, Nov. 5, form 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a service begininning at 1 p.m. Interment will be at the Fairview Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Just Cats, 2073 Western Ave, Guilderland, NY 12084 or The Mohawk and Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Ave. Menands, NY 12204 . Online condolences may be made at www.fredendallfuneralhome.com.

— Tyler Murphy