Obituary of Agnes G. Clark

Malta, NY - Agnes Gabrielsen Clark passed away peacefully September 3, 2015 in hospice at Home of the Good Shepherd Assisted Living Residence where she had lived since May 2014. Born August 7, 1927 in Briscoe, NY she was the daughter of Edward Gabrielsen and Edith (Norris) Gabrielsen. She spent her childhood and young adult years in the Sullivan County village of Liberty, and graduated from Liberty High School in 1945. She enjoyed participating in high school theatre productions and spent many summers with her brothers and many cousins on the Norris farm in Briscoe. Upon graduation, she was employed as a legal secretary in a Liberty law office. She married Gerry A. Clark in 1950. In 1957, they purchased a home in Delmar and continued to live in that same house on Brockley Drive for 55 years. Agnes was a homemaker and lovingly raised four daughters. She volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and room mother. She took particular joy in flower gardening and maintaining a spic and span household. In 1971, Agnes returned to the workforce, beginning as a teacher aide at Slingerlands Elementary School. She continued her career in Bethlehem Central School District as a secretary to the Director of Physical Education and Music, and as a secretary in the District Business Office. When she retired in 1995, she was secretary to the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds. She enjoyed her 25 years of service to Bethlehem Central, and was proud to say her daughters were Bethlehem grads. Agnes was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Delmar, volunteering at church dinners, actively participating in the Mary Martha service group, and volunteering endless hours at Treasure Cove. Church activities were a central part of her social life. Agnes eagerly anticipated family summer vacations in Truro, Cape Cod and Ogunquit, Maine. She enjoyed visiting her twin daughters and their families in Texas, and spending weekends and holidays with her daughters and their families living in NY. She loved to cook, read, and root for the Yankees and NY Giants. The primary focus of Aggie’s life was her family. She was a devoted, supportive mother to four daughters, and a beloved Nannie to ten grandchildren and five great grandsons. She is predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Gerry, and her brothers Robert and Richard Gabrielsen. Aggie is survived by her daughters: Judith Aidala (Gregory) of Salem, NY; Linda Griffin (Glenn) of Corpus, Christi, TX; Laurie Olson (Eric) of Dallas, TX; and Lisa Phelps (Brian) of Fulton, NY. She will be missed by her 10 grandchildren: Katherine Vorlage, Daniel Aidala, Bethany Salmon, Clark Griffin, Eric Olson, Glenn Griffin, Sarah Olson, Emily Olson, Andrew Johanson, and Kyra Phelps. She was delighted with her 5 great grandsons: Ripp Griffin; Peter, Edward, and Thomas Vorlage; and Griffin Salmon. Friends may call from 4 to 7 PM on Friday, September 11 at Applebee Funeral Home, Kenwood Avenue, Delmar, NY. Funeral service will be on Saturday, September 12 at 11 AM at First United Methodist Church Chapel, 438 Kenwood Avenue in Delmar. Burial will immediately follow at Bethlehem Cemetery in Delmar. Agnes’s family is especially appreciative of the outstanding compassion and devoted care provided by Home of the Good Shepherd at Highpointe Memory Care Unit, and suggests donations in her memory to the same at 26 Rock Rose Way, Malta, NY 12020.