Obituaries

SLINGERLANDS – Ruth M. Russell, 93, of Slingerlands, died Thursday, March 11, 2010 at her home.  Mrs. Russell was the daughter of the late Henry A. and Estella M. Meyer.  Born in Selkirk, she attended elementary school in what is now the Bethlehem Historical Association.  She graduated from Coeymans High School and Albany Business College.  She pursued a career in...

ALBANY – Joseph A. Kravalis, 91, of Albany died Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at the Albany County Nursing Home.  Mr. Kravalis was born in Latvia, but had lived in the United States since 1951.  He was employed by the Tobin Packing Co. in West Albany for a time, and later operated his own construction firm, Joseph A. Kravalis Home Builder. ...

HUDSON – Christopher Benfield, 49, formerly of Hudson, more recently residing between England and Sacandaga Lake, died Monday, February 15th 2010 at Albany Medical Center.  Born in North Yorkshire, England he was the son of the late Thomas H. and Alice Oakley Benfield.  He grew up in the North of England, moving to the USA following his graduation from York...

ALBANY – Frank X. Ryan, II, 84, of Albany, died Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at his home.  Mr. Ryan was born in Albany, the son of the late Francis X. and Maude Richer Ryan.  He lived here all his life.  He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, owned and operated the State Insulation Co. in Albany for...

ALBANY – Francesco “Frank” Casatelli, 86, of McKownville, entered into eternal peace Monday, February 22, 2010 at the Stratton DVA Medical Center in Albany.  Frank was born May 23, 1923 to Pietro & Enrichetta Nardone Casatelli in the Bronx, NY.  He was raised in the Bronx and Brooklyn, but lived in McKownville for over 59 years.  He was a decorated...

ALBANY – William G. “Bill” Hart, 56, of Albany, died suddenly Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at his home.  Bill was born in Albany and lived here all his life.  Bill graduated from Guilderland High School and was employed for many years at the Menands Workshop.  He also was a communicant of All Saints Catholic Church and the former St. Margaret...

ALBANY – Mary M. O’Leary, 78, of Slingerlands, went to eternal rest on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at the Saratoga Hospital, surrounded by her loved ones.  Mrs. O’Leary was born in Glenties, Co. Donegal, Ireland, the daughter of the late James Cunningham and Susan Byrne Cunningham. Mary made the long voyage across the sea at the tender age of 21....

ALBANY – Elizabeth B. Fahd, 89, of Albany, passed away Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at St. Peter’s Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.  Born January 23, 1921, she was a lifelong resident of Albany.  She was the daughter of the late Edward T. and Alice Humphrey Bonville.  She enjoyed gardening and spent her life as a devoted wife and mother.  She also...

ALBANY – Lawrence J. Martel, 68, of Albany, passed away at the Julie Blair Nursing and Rehab Center on Tuesday, February 16, 2010.  Larry was born in Albany, the son of the late Lorenzo and Loretta Martel, and was a lifetime Albany resident.  He spent 40-plus years in the printing industry and retired in 2005.  He was an honorary member...

ALBANY – Barbara Ann McGinnis Nagengast, was called to eternal life with our Lord Jesus Christ on February 3, 2010, her family by her side. 

She was the loving and supportive wife of Emil J. “Skee” Nagengast Jr. who predeceased her in 1975. She joined her beloved husband on his birthdate.  Born on June 28, 1928 in Stamford, CT,...

ALBANY – Mark R. Ryan, 52, of Albany, died Saturday, December 26, 2009.  Mr. Ryan was born in Albany and lived here all his life.  He was a graduate of Albany High School.  He was predeceased by his parents Robert E. Ryan and Joan Barbara “Bunny” Coyne Ryan.  He is survived by his aunts Sonia Goodspeed of Guilderland, Jean Hickman...

SLINGERLANDS – Russell L. Zindle, 62, of Slingerlands, died Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at his home.  Mr. Zindle was born in Albany, and lived in Slingerlands all his life.  He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war, and he worked as an electrician for many years, operating Excelsior Electric.  He was a member of the Guilderlands Elks #2480,...

ALBANY – Stanley Niemiec, 92, of Albany, died Monday, January 11, 2010 in the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital.   Mr. Niemiec was born in Glenville, CT, and was employed by the Electrolux Corp. for 36 years.  He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II, both in stateside hospitals and as part of a malaria survey...

ALBANY – Rev. Carl Bierman, 79, of Albany, died Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at the Albany Medical Center Hospital.  Rev. Bierman was born in Hannover, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1935.  He was raised in the Bronx, attended Columbia University, and earned a bachelor’s degree from the City College of New York.  He then earned a Masters...

ALBANY – Rose C. Catizone, 101, of Albany, died Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Home in Albany.  Miss Catizone was born in Albany and lived here all her life.  She was employed for many years by the Preston’s Pastry Shop in Albany, and was a communicant of the former Holy Cross Church in Albany for...

GUILDERLAND – Alma O. Heisey, 85, of Guilderland, formerly of Ridgewood, NJ, died Sunday, January 3, 2010 at her home.  Mrs. Heisey was born in Manhattan, and lived in New York and Ridgewood, NJ for many years until moving to Guilderland two years ago.  She was employed for many years by Exxon Oil Corp. in New York, retiring as secretary...

VOORHEESVILLE – On Thursday, December 31, 2009, Elaine V. Price Bailey, 64, also known as “Aunt Elaine” was called into Heaven by the Angels of God while surrounded by her loving family after a short battle with lung cancer.  Elaine was born to the late Grace and William Price of Manhattan.  She shared many years of marriage and friendship with...

ALBANY – Rita Gecewicz, 85, of McKownville, died Sunday, January 3, 2010 at the Teresian House.  Mrs. Gecewicz was born in the Bronx, but lived in Albany since 1946.  She was an active member of Christ the King Church and also founded the Arbor Hill Lassie League, a girls softball league, serving as the first president of the league and...