Helen Schulte

Cobleskill- Helen P. Schulte, 88, of Cobleskill, passed away on September 24, 2013 with her loving family and devoted caregivers at her side.

Helen was born on May 19, 1925 in Cobleskill. She was the daughter of Ray and Bernice Pollard. She graduated from Cobleskill Central School and attended SUNY Oneonta.

Helen married Lambertus (Bert) Schulte on September 15, 1945 and they were lifelong residents of Cobleskill. Helen will be remembered for her wit and sense of humor and adventure. She adored children and was the local "pied "piper" wherever she went, as children would surely gather around her, for her wonderful smiles as much as for her never-ending bag of Tootsie Pops. Helen became everyone's "Grandma" and to her family nicknames such as "Polly", "Birdy", "G and G", and Happy Cake" bring wonderful memories of an amazing woman.

Helen loved family gatherings, music, parties, good friends, and "camp", where she and Bert spent 50 years of wonderful summers with family and friends at Choke Cherry Lane at Sacandaga Reservoir. She never met a stranger as she would start talking to everyone she met and charm them with her curiosity and interest in others. Her chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies were famous.

Helen was secretary of Bert's construction business and she worked to keep his business running smoothly. For many years she also managed the Fairview apartments they owned on South Grand Street. Her tenants loved Helen, and knew she would make sure to put fresh flowers by the apartments and that any needs would be quickly met.

Helen was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Cobleskill and she also attended Christ the Shepard Lutheran Church. She was a past member of the Cobleskill Regional Hospital auxiliary. Helen was predeceased by her husband, Bert, on May 22 of this year. She was also predeceased by her siblings: Mary, Ray, and Charles and her granddaughter, Amy. She is survived by her children: Mary Beth Minson of Garwood, NJ; Dan Schulte (Carol) of Cobleskill; and Nancy DeSando (David) of Cobleskill. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Angie (Andy), Betsy (Carlos), Tim (Leinny), Christina and Jennifer (Steven) and eight great-grandchildren: Ali, Brody, Nikki, Dani, Joshua, Kira, Rebecca, and Elena.

A special thanks goes to the many devoted caregivers who cared for and became extended family to both Bert and Helen in the past two years: Tanya, Trisha, Lydia, Rosalie, Joanne, Tessie, Alesha, Loretta, Nanette, Amanda, Trish, Emma, Roxanne, and their homecare nurse, John. They made it possible for both Helen and Bert to live out their final days in the comfort of home.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill, with Rev. Royan Rodney. Family and friends are also invited to a period of visitation at the funeral home on Friday from 6 to 8PM. Burial will be in Cobleskill Rural Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cobleskill Regional Hospital, 178 Grandview Drive, Cobleskill, NY 12043.