Obituary of Ruth H. Delaney

Ruth Harriet Delaney, 89, of Oneonta, died December 10, 2015 at the FOCUS Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Cooperstown. Ruth was born on January 18, 1926 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, a daughter of the late Clark and Lydia (Carson) Boardman. She married Thomas Delaney on June 14, 1950, in Albany. Ruth spent her early childhood in Sheffield, Massachusetts where she lived on her parent’s farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse. She later moved to Albany, NY and graduated from Albany High School and attended Albany Business College. Ruth worked in the Business Office at Willow Brook State School in Staten Island until 1984 when she and Tom retired and moved to Clifton Park, where they were founding members of the Clifton Park Senior Center, members of the Lion’s Club, and participated in many community service activities. Throughout her life, she was a loyal and generous friend to many and extended her kind and selfless spirit to enrich the lives of others. She will be remembered for her sweet disposition, her servant’s heart, and her personal strength, which she attributed to her upbringing: “I’m from Massachusetts”. She was a blessing to all who knew her. Ruth especially loved spending time with family, friends and neighbors. She was a proficient seamstress, a lively shopper, and danced a mean jitter-bug. Ruth is survived by her nephew, Peter (Diane) Smith of Clifton Park, and their daughter Shelby (Doug) Robertson and children Chase and Shay; her niece Susan (John) Thurgood of Oneonta and children Sarah, Ian, and Meredith, and their father William Clemons; brother-in-law William (Yvonne) Delaney, Jr. of Middle River, MD and their children Kira and Robert; sister-in-law Dorothy (Anthony) Schipano of Fuera Bush, and their children Pat, Anthony, Susan, Linda and Vincent; and many great-nieces and great-nephews. She is also survived by special friends Gail and Bill Aninowsky of Matawan, NJ, Joan Taglione of Clifton Park, and Roger and Jane Sullivan of Oneonta, and her beloved cat “Trouble”. In addition to her parents, Ruth was predeceased by her husband, her son, Thomas Delaney, Jr., and her dearly-loved sister Barbara Smith. The family extends its thanks to the staff of the The Plains Assisted Living and Memory Care units for their years of special care to Ruth and also to the staff of FOCUS Otsego for helping her through the last weeks of her life. A graveside committal service will be held at the convenience of the family, with arrangements by Catricala Funeral Home, Clifton Park. A memorial celebration will be scheduled for a later date.