GUILDERLAND CENTER — Violet A. Empie, a mother of three sons, loved to sing and to travel. She stepped up to fill her husband’s job as postmaster in Guilderland Center while he served in World War II, and after his death.

She died on Saturday, May 9, 2015. She was 102.

Mrs. Empie kept close vivid memories from long ago. She recalled seeing Babe Ruth hit a homerun, and Francis X. Bushman perform in live vaudeville. She danced to the live music of Rudy Valle and Fred Waring bands. And she danced every night (except Sundays) through the month of August at the Warner Lake Pavilion to the live music of the Jim Wagner’s Band, and swam the length of Warner Lake.

She was born July 6, 1912 in the town of Knox, to Clifford and Retha Sholtes. The family moved to Guilderland Center when she was 2 years old and she lived there the rest of her life.

She attended the Cobblestone School in Guilderland Center and was graduated from Albany High School, class of 1930. Mrs. Empie worked for the New York Telephone Company for two years before she met and married Luther Empie, who soon became postmaster and owner of Empie’s Food Market in Guilderland Center. The couple had three sons.

Mrs. Empie was a faithful member and worker of Helderberg Reformed Church where she was a member of several groups including the “Up and Doing Class” and the Helderberg Reformed Church Women’s Group. She helped with the annual clambakes and other church suppers and she packed missionary barrels. She joined the senior choir at the age of 11 and became pianist of the Sunday school at the old church that burned down; the original church had no individual classrooms.

Mrs. Empie loved horseback riding, dancing, golfing, swimming, and skating and she belonged to several bridge, poker, and pinochle clubs in addition to bowling leagues.

A postal employee for many years, Mrs. Empie served as acting postmaster during World War II while husband, Luther, was in the service. She became postmaster following his death in July 1969 and retired from the post office in 1974.

“Vi loved nature and enjoyed doing things outdoors,” her family wrote in a tribute. “But the most gratifying activity in her life was singing.” In addition to singing in the church choir most of her life, she also performed with the community singing group, “Suburban Sounds,” at lodges, nursing homes, and weddings and gave two major concerts yearly.

While a member of the ecumenical choir, “Festival of Praise,” Mrs. Empie had the experience of performing many concerts at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, singing at the opening of the New York State Museum on the Empire State Plaza; St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City; and the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Empie loved cruises and made many visits to several islands in the Caribbean and Greek Islands and sailed through the Panama Canal.

 Memories from her many travels included moonlight cruises on the Mississippi River aboard the “Natches,” kissing the Blarney Stone, riding in a two-wheel horse-drawn cart in Ireland, being serenaded by a gondolier on a canal in Venice, and walking under Niagara Falls.

She also recalled guest driving a horse-drawn, sign-seeing carriage in Boston, seeing St. Augustine while riding a horse-drawn carriage with fringe on top, ascending the Eiffel Tower and enjoying the view from the top, cruising on S’wame River and cruising down the Hudson River on luxurious boats named for presidents.

She also sailed through the beautiful fiords of Scandinavia, rode up a mountain in a horse-drawn, two-seated wagon through an olive grove on a Greek island, and dug for clams on Nantucket.

“Vi didn’t forget the Alamo or the wonders of Stonehenge, the leaning Tower of Pizza or the Coliseum, the rain forests of South America or San Juan,” her family wrote. “She also recalled a month-long (September) bus tour of our country taking a northern route to the State of Washington, down the coast and staying a few days at numerous points of interest and returning via a southern route, all rain free, except for one day in California.”

In addition to traveling, Mrs. Empie spent many hours at Duane Lake in Duanesburg. From the time she and her husband built a camp on the lake in 1947, summers were spent there enjoying fishing, sailing, canoeing, swimming, and playing cards on the porch with family and friends. She also mentioned ice-skating parties with toasted marshmallows in front of the camp’s fireplace.

“Vi was stricken with Poly Myalgia Rheumatica in 1988, which curtailed all physical activities,” her family wrote. “She was, however, after six years, back on the golf course (with a motorized cart) and played regularly until she was 90 when she fractured her foot.”

In August 2011, Mrs. Empie had a minor stroke and spent a short time in St. Peter’s Hospital. She was moved to Our Lady of Mercy Life Center of Guilderland in late August of that year. “In February 2012,” her family wrote, “she returned to her home in Guilderland Center where she rested the rest of her earthly life.

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Violet A. Empie is survived by three sons, Reg and wife, Mary Lu, of Arizona, Bryan of Guilderland Center, and Denny of Schenectady; two grandchildren, Lisa and her husband, David Totemoff, of Alaska, and Eric and his partner, Dan Carillo, of Arizona; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents died before her as did her husband, Luther, in 1969; a brother, Clyde Sholtes; sisters Clara Brate, Esther King, Florence Sholtes, and Hazel Sholtes who died in infancy, and fiancé Albert Buttino.

As requested, no services will be held. Cremated remains will be scattered in several places — at the Reformed Church Cemetery next to her husband, Luther; near a stone wall on a favorite golf course; and in the woods at her camp at Duane Lake.

Arrangements are by Fredendall funeral Home in Altamont and online condolences may be made at www.fredendallfuneralhome.com

Memorial contributions may be made to one of Mrs. Empie’s favorite charities.

Mrs. Empie felt a poem by Elizabeth Craven, “For All These Things and a Thousand More….” to summarize her love of life, and nature.

“For All These Things and a Thousand More….”

I thank Thee, God, that I have lived

In this great world and known its many joys;

The song of birds, the strong, sweet scent of hay

And the cooling breezes in the secret dusk,

The flaming sunsets at the close of day,

Hills, and the lonely, heather-covered moors,

Music at night, and the moonlight on the sea,

The beat of waves upon the rocky shore,

And wild, white spray, flung high in ecstasy:

The faithful eyes of dogs, and treasured books,

The love of kin and fellowship of friends,

And all that makes life dear and beautiful.

For all these things and a thousand more,

I thank Thee, God, that I have lived.

I thank Thee, too, that there has come to me

A little heartache and the loneliness

That comes with parting, and the word, “Goodbye,”

Dawn breaking after dreary hours of pain,

When I discovered that night’s gloom must yield

And morning light break through to me again.

Because of these and other blessings poured

Unmasked upon my wondering head,

Because I know there is yet to come

An even richer and more glorious life,

And most of all, because Thine only Son

Once sacrificed life’s loveliness for me —

I thank Thee, God, that I have lived.