Moira Jean Park

Dateline: Rexford, NY
Moira J. Park, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed to the final frontier at the age of 84 on September 7th. Born on Christmas Day, 1940, in Albany, New York, she was the cherished daughter of the late Mason and Henrietta Smith and the younger sister of Kenneth Forbes Smith. Moira grew up in the small town of Ticonderoga, nestled in the Adirondack Mountains, where she developed her lifelong love for nature, animals, and the simple beauty of the sparkling mountain lakes and forests.
At age 17, Moira moved to Albany, where she attended the Mildred Elley School of Business. She went on to work at the New York State Department of Health as the Principal Secretary for the Director of Radiological Health. Ambitious and intellectually curious, she also pursued her love of writing at Russell Sage College, studying English Literature.
In 1962, Moira married the love of her life, John, after a blind date she initially hesitated to attend-she joked that she "didn't date musicians." Both knew after one date that this was their forever match. Their 61 years of marriage was filled with love, laughter, and countless adventures. Together, they raised two children, Keith and Heather, instilling them with memories of lake life and the magnificence of the nearby Adirondack Park.
Moira's gift of interior decorating created a home of warmth and beauty. She was a wonderful cook and baker, an inspired gardener, and an artist at heart. She filled her friends' and family's life with sparkle, color, and splendor through her many crafts-award winning quilts, needlepoint, homemade dolls, refinished antique furniture, decoupage, and more. Her numerous quilts, made with brilliant colors and intricate patterns admired by many, will continue to wrap her family and friends in love.
A devoted member of the Clifton Park Peacemakers quilting group, Moira found not only creative fulfillment but also deep friendship and support among the women who gathered weekly for over 35 years. Moira's compassion extended beyond people to animals. She rescued and cared for eleven cats over the years, each one becoming a beloved family member. Her feline companion, Peeka, will now continue to be cared for by her son Keith.
Moira was a patron of the arts and a lover of theater and travel. Alongside John and dear friends, she explored Europe, the British Isles, and many corners of the United States, making new friends and memories wherever she went.
Above all, Moira will be remembered for her kindness, wisdom, and patience. She always had time to listen, to comfort, and to offer help to those in need. She was a trusted friend, a devoted wife, a loving mother, and an adoring grandmother. Her family and friends will forever treasure the love she shared, the beauty she created, and the warmth she gave so freely.
Moira is survived by her son Keith John Park, her daughter Heather Park Hatchett, and her treasured grandchildren, Emily Brooke Hatchett and Ethan Park Hatchett. She also leaves behind her beloved sister-in-law Patricia Smith, as well as numerous friends past and present whose lives she touched with her vivid spirit. She was preceded in death by her husband John and her brother Kenneth in 2024.
All are invited to attend visitation between 10:00am and 12:00pm on Friday, September 12, 2025, at Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home, 21 Midline Rd., Ballston Lake, NY 12019.
Those who wish may make memorial donations in lieu of flowers to Hudson Mohawk Humane Society, 3 Oakland Ave, Menands, NY 12204. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Moira, please visit our floral store.