ALTAMONT — Audrey Van Buren — wife, mother, and longtime Altamont resident — died on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at Pathways Rehabilitation Center, after several years of declining health. She was 84.

Mrs. Van Buren, née MacFarland, was born in Rensselaer on March 15, 1932.

Her family wrote in a tribute that she moved with her loving husband, Herman Van Buren, to the Altamont area, where they went on to raise two sons.

As a mother, said son Arthur Van Buren, she was strict. “She taught us values. She taught us to do things. She helped us with our schoolwork,” he said.

Mrs. Van Buren enjoyed cooking and gardening, as well as all kinds of creative pursuits, including ceramics and painting. She was very talented, and many of the items she made became gifts, her family wrote.

Her husband was Guilderland’s highway superintendent for many years. She supported him in his first run for the post, sometimes even campaigning for him in an elephant costume to represent his Republican party. She is wearing that costume in one of her sons’ favorite photos of her, Arthur Van Buren said.

She loved watching auto races, her son said. She and her husband introduced the children to this pastime, but had more time to enjoy it after the kids were grown, Mr. Van Buren said.

More than anything else, she loved spending time with her family and friends, her family wrote.

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Mrs. Van Buren is survived by her two sons, Martin, and his wife Martha, and Arthur, and his wife, Lyn, as well as by seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Herman Van Buren, her beloved husband of nearly half a century, died before her.

Her parents, William and Lila (née Clafland) MacFarland, also died before her, as did her brother, Bob, of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 11 at 11 a.m. at Christ’s Church, 4 Charles Blvd., Guilderland.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Altamont Rescue Squad, 767 State Route 146, Altamont NY 12009, or to Christ Church, 4 Charles Blvd., Guilderland NY 12084.

—Elizabeth Floyd Mair