Obituary of Gertrude I. Persico

Mrs. Gertrude I. Belanger Persico died peacefully in to the arms of the Lord on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at the Maplewood Manor in Ballston Spa. She was 104. Born on Christmas Day 1909, she was the daughter of the late George and Nellie Hedge Belanger. She moved with her family to Amsterdam, NY at an early age and was educated at local schools including St. Mary's Institute. She was employed by Bigelow Sanford for a number of years until its closing where she then returned to Massachusetts to work for Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Company. In 1961, she returned to Amsterdam, where she was united in marriage to Anthony Persico. Anthony died in 1983. She was also predeceased by her former husband, Thomas Valerio; siblings, Elizabeth Henry, Christine Heffernan, Rita Pikor, George Belanger III and Adelard Belanger; her step son, Patrick Persico; and son in law, Leo Rutkowski. Survivors include her daughter, Dolores Rutkowski; grandchildren, Mark (Gail) Rutkowski, Margaret (Kevin) Slade, Anne (Thomas)Payne; two step daughters, Carmella (Joseph) Spakoski and Carol Persico; four step grandchildren, Sheri Price, Lisa Kreuger, Justine Schebel and Pamela Duffy; several great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. The Mas of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 9:15a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, St. John Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010. Entombment will follow in Memory's Garden Cemetery in Colonie. Relatives and friends are invited and may call prior to the Mass at the church beginning at 8:30a.m. Saturday morning. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mrs. Persico's name may be made to the North American Shrine of Martyr's, 136 Shrine Rd, Auriesville, NY. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam.