Obituary of H. David Persons

H. David Persons, 84, of Mohr Road, Town of Florida, passed away Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at Mount Loretto Nursing Home in Amsterdam. He was born in Amsterdam June 1, 1924 a son of the late Charles and Mary Regan Persons. David was a life resident of the Amsterdam area and was a graduate of St. Mary's Institute. He married the former Barbara Gaugler on May 17, 1947 at St. Joseph's Church in Amsterdam who predeceased him on April 13, 2002. As a younger man, David very much enjoyed hunting and fishing as a hobby. As years passed and his family grew, he and his wife placed their attention toward raising their 9 children and working on their family owned dairy farm. David was of Roman Catholic faith and was a parishioner of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Amsterdam. He also worked as the Superintendent of St. Mary's Cemetery from the late 1960's to the early 1970's. David was a member of the Farm Bureau and was a former member of the Holy Name Society at St. Mary's Church and the Town of Florida Vol. Fire Department. He will be sadly missed by all of his many family members and friends. His loving family includes his son; Alan D. Vanessa Persons of Clifton Park, his daughters; Paula Bruce Felde of Hagaman, Noreen Orsini of the Town of Florida, Karen Newkirk Douglas Thorpe of Princetown, Diane Kutnicki of Gypsum, CO, MaryEllen Persons David Zimmerman of LaCrescenta, CA, Carol Greg Weyl of SanDiego, CA, Teresa Michael Gillooley of Clifton Park and Sandi Picciocca of Amsterdam, and his sister; Mary Quandt of Amsterdam. 24 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews also survive. In addition to his parents and his wife, David was predeceased by a daughter, Phyllis Persons and his brothers, Charles, Robert, Donald and Raymond Persons. Prayer Services will be at 8:15AM on Saturday, October 25, 2008 at Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Saturday at 9:15AM at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, East Main St., Amsterdam with Fr. John Medwid as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Fort Johnson. The family will receive relatives and friends Friday evening from 4:00 to 7:00PM at the funeral home. Contributions in David's memory may be made to St. Mary's Church, 156 East Main Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010 or to the Alzheimer's Association of New York, 85 Watervliet Avenue, Albany, NY 12206.