Obituary of Barbara S. Kessler

BARBARA S. KESSLER 1948-2009 Niskayuna, New York Barbara S. Kessler, 61, of Valerie Drive in Niskayuna, N.Y., and Wailea, Maui, Hawaii, died on Thursday afternoon, August 13, 2009, at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady. She fought a courageous three-year battle against breast and ovarian cancer. Barbara is survived by her loving husband of almost 41 years, Michael; her children Lee (wife: Janene) and Danielle; her brother Barry Siegel (wife: Delma); and her grandson Evan. Born on January 7, 1948, in Albany, N.Y., Barbara was a lifelong resident of the Capital District, raised in Albany and spending her adult life in Clifton Park and Niskayuna. She attended State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo and finished her bachelor's degree in art at the University at Albany - SUNY. Barbara's greatest pride was her family. Her second was her garden and the Niskayuna house she designed and perpetually redecorated up until her final days. A member of Congregation Beth Emeth in Albany, Barbara was an active volunteer at the Northeast Parent and Child Society in Schenectady. She was also an award-winning artist, showing works most recently at Art Maui. She was a finalist in the Schenectady Stockade Show and was voted Most Popular Artist at the Waukesha (Milwaukee) Art Show. Barbara's family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Thomas L. Goodman M.D., Jan Catino N.P., the nurses and staff at Upstate Oncology Hematology, and Patrick Timmons M.D. and his staff for their wonderful care and compassion over the past three years. Her family would also like to thank the nurses and staff at Ellis Hospital A-6 for their extraordinary care during Barbara's last days. Funeral services will be at Congregation Beth Emeth, 100 Academy Road, Albany, N.Y, on Sunday, August 16, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. Interment will follow in the Beth Emeth Cemetery in Loudonville, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Schenectady Cancer Foundation (1112 Avon Road, Schenectady, NY 12308), Northeast Parent and Child Society (530 Franklin Street Schenectady, NY 12308), or Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065). `