Elizabeth Friedland

Elizabeth Friedland Albany - Elizabeth (Betty) J. (Gage)(Arn) Friedland, age 91, of Albany passed away on Tuesday 30 April, 2024. She was the daughter of Roland V. & Ruth E. (Alexander) Gage of Esperance, NY. She began her education in the village 2-room schoolhouse, later transferred and graduated from Schoharie Central in 1951. After earning a BS degree from Syracuse in foods and nutrition Class of 1955, she married William J. Arn, Jr.(dec.?84). They raised their family in 7 states (NY, NJ, CT, PA, OH, KS, TX.). Returning to Esperance in 1970, she became an employee of Schoharie & Schenectady Mutual Fire Insurance Assn. and in 1976 elected director and later secretary, treasurer and manager. In 1992 the company merged with Eastern Mutual Insurance and she continued her full time duties for 5 years as a board member until her death. Earlier years she was a hospital dietitian at Englewood, NJ; East Stroudsburg, PA hospitals and the Care Free Nursing Home in Wichita, KS. While in Laredo, she was a full time substitute teacher, an Amway dealer and a Tupperware dealer who gave parties in Mexico. While in Wichita she enjoyed being a Cub Scout Den mother, coach and instructor, (one night our group took in 25 new cubs). After the death of Bill in 1984, she married David M. Friedland. They moved to Albany where he had a psychology office until his death in 2008. Two years later she met James A. Bovair, her partner, for 13 years until his death. Her remaining time she spend laughing, listening to music, watching tv, reminiscing about the Good Olde Days with Gerry Lugg. Betty was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity serving as local president, province colligate director, advisory member of Pittman Hall in Albany, a delegate to the national conventions in Denver and Sun Valley, ID and to 8 province conventions. She served on many committees of the Esperance Methodist church, president of Guilderland AARP and served 13 years volunteering at Proctors Theater, Albany International Airport and St. Peters Hospital and was a member of SOS in addition to 2 dance clubs and a life member of the Albany German American Club. She liked to dance, loved to travel to the islands, swim in the ocean at Long Sands in York, ME, eat seafood and walk in the sand. She was predeceased by her brother Robert J. Gage and survived by children Richard (Gail) Arn, Linda (Brian) Justen, Ellie Friedland, Grandchildren; Patricia (Joe) Wainright, Katherine (Matthew) Harrell and Michalea, Ryan Wolford, Alexandra Friedland and nephews Royce (Stephanie) and Thomas Gage, and companion Gerry Lugg. We the family want to give Special Thanks to Dr. Sullenberger, Capital Cardiology, St. Peter's Hospital's Doctors, Nurses, Techs and staff for Excellent care provided to her. Wake and memorial service will be held at Hans Funeral Home at 10 ? 12 am Saturday June 22, 2024. She is making an anatomical gift of her body to Albany Medical College. Contributions can be made in her memory to the Esperance Volunteer Rescue Squad or the Esperance-Sloansville United Methodist Church.