William J. Burke & Sons / Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes

Saratoga Springs, NY- Beatrice Smith Braim, 86 of Saratoga Springs passed away on January 31, 2021 peacefully alongside loving family. She was born on January 7, 1935 to Rolland and Vivian Jordan Smith. In December of 1952, she married Joseph Braim. Her family was her life and as it grew, she derived great joy in attending the many school, sporting and family events. She graduated from Saratoga Springs High School and Glens Falls Hospital Nursing Program. Once her children we...re all in school, she entered the work force at the Saratoga County Infirmary (Maplewood Manor) where she worked as a thoughtful and compassionate nurse for over 20 years. She also enjoyed working for many years at Geyser Road School. While her passion was her family, she enjoyed an occasional trip to the casino, swimming at the YMCA, bingo at the K of C and her bowling team MixedUp. She made a friend wherever she went. She was an avid Red Sox and Giants fan and enjoyed a rivalry with anyone who wasn’t. Beatrice was predeceased by her son Douglas and infant daughter Theresa. She is survived by her husband Joseph of 68 years, son Donald (Elaine) of Saratoga Springs, daughters Susan Briggs of Myrtle Beach, SC, Joanne Natalie (Joseph) of Saratoga Springs, and Joyce Tourtellot (Jay) of Ballston Spa. Brothers Richard Smith (Linda) of Selkirk and Michael Smith of Saratoga Springs. Sisters Gloria Eliott (Jim) of Florida, Cathy Caruso and Orpha Stiles (Robert) of Saratoga Springs. Her grandchildren Edward Braim (Angela Bronzene), Danielle Braim, Bryan Briggs (Lisa Kirchner), Kristy Briggs, Jennifer Delaney, Jason Delaney (Christine), Douglas Braim (Jennifer MacDonald), Christopher Braim (Annie), Joseph Braim, Amy Sawyer (Matt), Andrew Tourtellot (Danielle), 10 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. The Family would like to thank the nursing staff of D wing at Saratoga Hospital, the members of the Knights of Columbus, the very caring Hospice staff attending Beatrice as well as many kind and caring friends and neighbors. Due to COVID restrictions, services will be private. Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/ Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations in her memory be made to The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 Manning Blvd. Albany, NY 12208 or at communityhospice.org.

Scotia, NY- Patricia (Patti) Boyce, of Saratoga Springs passed away peacefully on January 30, 2021 at the age of 74. Patti was born in Saratoga Springs on January 24, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Elmer Boyce and Mary Coleman Boyce. Patti graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1965. She worked for over 25 years at Woolworth’s in Saratoga as a bookkeeper, and then part-time at Saratoga Springs High School. Patti always had a smile and a wonderful sense of humo...r. She deeply loved her son Denis and enjoyed traveling, spending time with family, and spoiling her nieces and nephew. She also enjoyed reading, telling family stories, and visiting with family and friends. She wanted to be remembered as a spitfire and life of the party. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. In addition to her parents Patti is predeceased by her fiancé Donald Driscoll. Patti is survived by her son Denis Boyce and wife Laurie of Halfmoon; her brother Robert Boyce and wife Ellen of Saratoga Springs. She is also survived by her nieces Christy Daproza, Kelly Cummings and husband Chad, and nephew Jamus Boyce; great nieces Dani, Annaliese, Taylor, and great nephew Devin as well as several cousins and long-time friends Jim and Diane Conley. A graveside service will be held in Saratoga Springs this spring. Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/ Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Ballston Spa, NY Joseph J. O’Neill, Jr. passed away Thursday January 28, 2021 at the age of 77 surrounded by his loving family. Born November 11, 1943 in Brooklyn, he was the son of the late Joseph J. and Grace Obnibene O’Neill. Joe joined the Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works in March of 1978 as utilities manager. He was named Director of Public Works for the City of Saratoga Springs in 1988. He had 23 years with the city he loved. Joe enjoyed working with flower...s and is mainly responsible for the beautiful display of flowers throughout the city to this day. His love of Congress Park is represented by the beautiful restoration of the grounds and the Canfield Casino. Joe is also responsible for the famous fish pond behind the Casino and could be seen feeding the fish regularly. Cleaning up the stream at the northeast corner of the park was another project he really enjoyed. Joe always said, without his men he couldn’t accomplish all that was done during his time with the city. He was very proud of them. Joe leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Suzanne Egan O’Neill; four children, Kelly Burrus, Kimberly (Mike) Miller, Kerry (Tom) Selfridge and Joseph J. O’Neill III; six grandchildren, Grace and Isabella Burrus, Nick, Jack and Emily Selfridge and Aiden O’Neill. Joe will be greatly missed by all of them. There will be no calling hours. There will be a private service in the spring. Donations can be made to Community Hospice of Saratoga Springs. Without them, Joe’s family couldn’t have made it though. I thank them for all of the help they gave us. Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518-584-5373). Online remembrances may be made at https://www.burkefuneralhome.com/obituary/joseph-oneill-jr

Mass of Christian Burial for Paula DeGearo (service to begin approximately 11am)

IN LOVING MEMORY - ELEANOR STRACK Eleanor (Ellie) Bierly Strack passed away on January 27, 2021 in Saratoga Springs, NY at the age of 89. Ellie was born in Vestal, NY on March 2, 1931. As a young girl Ellie was involved in Girl Scouts, and was the bugler each summer at camp. She was one of the first high school students from the United States to be chosen to study abroad through the American Field Service. She studied in Oslo where she had the opportunity to meet and dine w...ith the King and Queen of Norway. In Ellie’s second year at Keuka College she met her future husband, Allen Strack, who was attending Cornell University. Al was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force and his orders moved the newly married couple to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH. Ellie worked at the base as a secretary to the general and attended University of Dayton at night. After his service, Al began working for General Electric, moving the couple all over the country from Long Beach, CA to Chicago, IL and Allentown, PA. During this time Ellie and Al had two children, Richard (Rick) and Margaret (Marno) and Ellie was able to finish college and earn her Master of Arts in English Education. The family finally settled in Schenectady, NY. Ellie accepted a position at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School where she taught American Literature, Folklore, Reading, Writing and Theater/Acting classes. She was advisor of the Drama Club where she directed many award-winning productions. Her passion for live theater and the arts was evident and she made lifelong memories for many of her students. During school breaks, Ellie modeled with the Barbara Thompson Agency in Albany doing runway, print, and TV work. Ellie began to paint and quilt while living among artists and musicians in the Stockade in Schenectady. Ellie, Al, Marno, and Rick enjoyed summers on Lake George, camping on the islands and scuba diving. They built a camp on Dunham’s Bay in the 1970s which became their beloved summer home. Ellie was lovingly known as a kind, generous and vivacious woman. She loved all those who passed through her life. She wanted to be remembered as an ‘interesting old lady, and that she was! She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Ellie is survived by her daughter-in-law, Theresa Strack, of Georgia, and The Dooley Family, her adopted family of Saratoga Springs, NY. Ellie was predeceased by her daughter Marno (1974), son Rick (1997) and husband Al (2009). A memorial will be held on Lake George this summer. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made in Ellie’s memory to: Lake George Association, PO Box 408, Lake George, NY 12845 lakegoergeassociation.org Online remembrances may be made at https://www.burkefuneralhome.com/obitu/eleanor-ellie-strack

Saratoga Springs, NY - John Leon Riley, 87, died suddenly at home on January 30, 2021. He was born October 11, 1933 in Watkins Glen, NY, to the late Myron and Ruth Everingham Riley. He graduated from Watkins Glen High School, and from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. After graduating from Cornell, he had a long career in architecture, becoming a partner in the firm Russell, Gibson, vonDohlen located in West Hartford, CT, designing many schools, chu...rches, and office buildings. He pursued his lifelong interest in music by serving first on the board of The Hartford Symphony Orchestra and later the board of the Albany Symphony Orchestra. He was a loyal alumnus of Cornell, serving on the Cornell University Council and the Advisory Committee for the College of Architecture, Arts, and Planning. Wherever he went, he was well-respected and well-liked. He had a love of the great outdoors, from boating as a child on Seneca Lake to sailing on Sebago Lake in Maine. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, canoeing, hiking, and skiing. He built his own Adirondack guideboat after moving to Saratoga Springs. He is survived by his wife, Almeda (A.C.) (Church Dake) Riley; his children, Alison Riley-Clark (Tom - deceased), Kagan Wolfe, and Susan Shelby (Evan); their children Emily, Stephen, and Brenden Clark and Dylan Shelby; stepchildren Laura Dake Roche (John), Gary Dake (Aimee), Glen Dake, and Renee Dake Wilson (Brian); their children Morgan, Will, and Carolyn Roche, Charlie (Brigid) and Zak (Desiree) Dake, and Silas, Collette, and Vaughn Wilson; and great grandchildren Eve and Lily Dake. Along with his parents, he was pre-deceased by his first wife, Carolyn Dudley Riley and son David Riley. Due to Covid, services will be at the convenience of the family at a later time. Memorial gifts may be made to The Wesley Foundation, 131 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or the Saratoga Hospital Foundation, 211 Church Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Online remembrances may be made at https://www.burkefuneralhome.com/obituary/john-riley

Saratoga Springs -Marion E. Ash Julius 81 passed away December 6, 2020 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Born on March 23, 1939 in Shoreham, VT Marion was the daughter of the late Wallace D. and Ida Mae Blake Ash. She married James Julius on June 26, 1954 in Orwell, Vermont. Marion worked at the Senior Center in Saratoga Springs for 5 years. She enjoyed spending time with all of her friends at Midtown Apartments, and going to the Dollar Tree and the Peppermill with them.... She enjoyed dancing and rides to Vermont with her husband during their long marriage and playing cards, of which Rummy was her favorite. She loved watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune with her son-in-law Vic. She enjoyed the activities at Wesley. She was predeceased by her husband, her son Joseph, 13 siblings and her first grandson, Daniel Rowe. She is survived by her 9 children; Marion (Victor) Wine of Greenfield Center, James (Elaine) Julius, Jr. of Gansevoort, Pauline (Walter) Mikolajczyk of Erie, PA, Deborah (Roger) Thompson of Lockport, NY, Kevin (Karen) Julius of Greenfield Center, David (Caren) of Gansevoort, NY, Reuben(Elizabeth) of Brooklyn, NY, Wallace Julius of Saratoga, NY and Robert Julius of Gansevoort, NY; 30 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren and 4 great, great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Special family Nancy Ash and Maureen Ash. Family and friends are invited to call from 9-11am on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at William J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518-584-5373). A funeral home service will be celebrated at 11am. Burial will be in Orwell, Vermont next to her husband and son. In Lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com

Remembering December 7, 1941.

Saratoga Springs Sylvia Ann (Kennedy) Heiner, loving wife and mother, passed away peacefully at home on December 1st, 2020. She was surrounded by her family and caregivers. Sylvia was born in Schenectady to the late James F. Kennedy and Geraldine (Fancher) Kennedy. She was predeceased by her sister Diane (Kennedy) King. Sylvia was a graduate of Mohonasen High School and attended Potsdam State University and graduated from Plattsburgh State University with a BA in English. A...Continue reading

Saratoga Springs, NY - Helene (Lee) M. Gary, 88, of Saratoga Springs, passed peacefully on Nov. 30, 2020. Born and raised in Troy, NY, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Helen (Bessmer) Gerwin and is predeceased by her husband, George B. Gary and granddaughter Helen Watson. She is survived by her six children, Lisa, Bernard, Andrew, Arthur, Adam and Monica (Kevin) Watson; grandchildren Marie (Eddie) Plefka, Sean and Eric Watson, Adam G. Gary, Jennifer Russell, and gr...eat-grandson Kevin Plefka. Lee worked for many years in the Race Secretary’s office at the Saratoga Harness Track. She was a loving wife and mother and will be deeply missed. There are no calling hours and services will be private. Contributions can be made in memory of Lee to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/ Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Home of 628 North Broadway (518-584-5373). Online remembrances may be made at https://www.burkefuneralhome.com/obituary/helene-lee-gary

Saratoga Springs, NY - Lisa Chodos Noonan, born March 24, 1953, to Dr. Robert and Laura Chodos, passed away at home on November 30, 2020, with her family at her side. Lisa was remarkable in so many ways, having lived with cancer for 16 years, never allowing the cancer to impact her contagious enthusiasm for life and exceptional level of personal optimism, starting each day knowing that today will be a great day and tomorrow even better, as evident by the ever present smile an...Continue reading