All Obituaries

David Aaron VanDerwerken, 77, of Lincolnton, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at Atrium Health – Lincoln. Born July 3, 1943, in Schoharie County, N.Y., he was the son of the late Donald Edgar VanDerwerken and Virginia Ottman VanDerwerken. He was also preceded by his only sibling, Donald Edgar VanDerwerken Jr. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Patricia M. VanDerwerken; daughter, Colleen Lodge (Jeff) of Scotia, N.Y.; sons, Kenneth D. VanDerwerken (Kari) of Charlotte,...

Cobleskill- Alice Boynton, 89, of State Route 10 died Saturday, April 10, 2021 at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center in Guilderland where she has been a resident since 2019. Born August 21, 1931 in Seward, NY, she was the daughter of Frederick and Elda (VanBuren) Sperbeck. Alice had worked at Grand Union in Cobleskill and Campbell Plastics in Rotterdam before most recently being a greeter at Walmart in Cobleskill. Her family meant the world to her and that is exactly what she most treasured-...

Sharon- Ruth E. Mereness, 93, of Sharon died Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at Kingsway Arms Nursing Center in Schenectady where she had been a resident since 2018.  Born July 29, 1927 in Jefferson, NY, she was the daughter of Roy and Mary (Kenyon) Webster. Ruth was a 1944 graduate of the former Cobleskill Central School and began her working career in 1945 as a secretary for former Assemblyman Russell Selkirk.  She continued to work for the next 71 years with the Selkirk family in their...

Dorothy M. Ostrom, 93, formerly of Richmondville, died Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021 in the comfort of her home with her loving family at her side. Born May 11, 1927 in Summit, she was the daughter of Ford E. and Marguerite (Hogensen) Dauley.  She married John William Ostrom on March 30, 1945.  Dorothy was a long standing member of the Richmondville American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, taught Sunday school at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and was an active member of the...

Cobleskill- Faith Jean McClure, 87, of Cobleskill, New York passed away April 3, 2021 surrounded by her family.  She will be laid to rest beside her loving husband, George, during a private graveside service on Saturday, May 15, 2021. Faith was born on February 27, 1934 in White Plains, New York to Effie (Green) and Wilfred R. Wilson.  At 18 years old she married the love of her life, George McClure, also of White Plains.  Together they raised a family of three children and...

Cobleskill- Janice Culoso, 84, of Washington Ave., died peacefully on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 in the comfort of her home surrounded by her loving family. Born August 30, 1936 in Brooklyn, she was the daughter of the late Herman and Olga (Steinke) Shumacker.  For many years Janice lived in Clinton, MA working as a purchasing agent for Nypro Inc. In 1987, she moved to Cobleskill to live with her daughter. Raised as an only child, Janice treasured being a mother and grandmother,...

Cobleskill- Erika Mazzetti, 76, of Woodland Drive entered eternal peace on Friday, March 26, 2021 at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown following a brief illness. Born in Munich, Germany on May 26, 1944, she was the daughter of the late Karl and Elaine (Isumow) Murnek. Erika lived on Long Island for many years where she was a bookkeeper for Belair Accounting Services.  For the past 29 years, she and her husband have lived in Schoharie County.  Erika was a hard worker and never...

Central Bridge- Helen A. Nelson, 72, of Central Bridge died Friday, March 26, 2021 at the Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Guilderland. Born April 21, 1948 in Schoharie, she was the daughter of Henry and Helen (Oliver) Bender. Helen lived many years in Florida before moving back to Schoharie County.  She was a strong woman, willing to work and help others as they needed it.  Helen was a bartender and housekeeper where she had been employed, at Orchard Farm in Redhook and...

Stephen “Doc” Mackenzie, 73, lifelong educator, enthusiastic snacker, beloved father, and the world’s most un-boring husband, passed away on March 22, 2021. Born in Brownsville Texas, he was predeceased by his parents, Joan (Ellen) and Robert Mackenzie, older brother Brian Mackenzie, youngest brother Colin Mackenzie and a line of devoted horse and dog partners including Rusty, Jason, Delta, Tommy, Captain, Kellogg, Nelson, Wizard, Snickers, and Rico. He is survived by his...

Richmondville- Bruce Emerson Knapp, 85, of Harroway Road died unexpectedly in his sleep on Friday, March 12, 2021 in the comfort of his home. Born November 11, 1935 in Shrub Oak, NY, he was the son of Gilbert and Camilla (Odell) Knapp. Bruce was a 1955 graduate of the former Richmondville Central School.  He married his bride for life, Rosemary Helen Bilby, on June 29, 1957.  Bruce enlisted in the United States Army in 1958 and served our country in Germany until receiving an...