Pilar Gemeinhardt Ma.

Averill Park - Sunday, August 14, 2022, God welcomed a new angel to his Kingdom of Heaven. Ma. Pilar Gemeinhardt died suddenly but peacefully at her home. She was born in Mexico City, Mexico on September 2, 1924 to Eduardo and Rosa (Fernandez) Oliveros. The oldest of ten children, she grew up in a large extended family full of love and respect. She loved baseball and spent many hours at the baseball parks with her uncle and father. Her youth was spent listening to orchestras and dancing.. She graduated from the Normal Teachers School in 1942 and spent ten years teaching elementary school and caring for her younger siblings. In 1951 she met an American Edward A. Gemeinhardt who fell instantly in love with her. They married in 1953 and moved to New Jersey and then settled in Averill Park where she raised her three daughters. Pilar was a homemaker, accomplished seamstress and volunteer for the Averill Park School District for 50 years from the time her oldest entered kindergarten until her youngest grandchild graduated from high school. She baked, went on field trips, organized school parties and sewed costumes for the high school musicals and Chrystal Theatre. She was President of the Sand Lake School PTA and rose to PTA Council President. She taught Spanish classes at the YWCA in Troy and introduced the Spanish language program to the Averill Park School District at the George Washington School. In addition, she taught Spanish at the elementary level for before and after school programs. After the untimely death of her husband in 1983, Pilar spent eight years as a cashier for the Joy Department Store in Rensselaer where she was responsible for preparing and checking all cash drawers.
Pilar is survived by her children, Pilar (William) Dexter of West Sand Lake, Esperanza (Thomas) DiStefano of Nassau and Olga (Paul) Ashline of Averill Park. She is also survived by her grandchildren who knew her as Weta: Elena (Martin) Furciniti of Troy, Elise Doney of Guilderland, Alea (Cornelius) Alumera of Dubai, Dr. Jina' Ashline (Dr. Blaine Warner) of Connecticut, Sara (Andrew) Hayes of Troy, and Adam Dexter (Andrea Rose) of Virginia. In addition, she leaves her beautiful great grandchildren, Alexander, Isabella, Olivia, Gabriella, Anthony and Anna Furciniti, Caleb and Colin Doney, Russell Hayes and Zuri Alumera. She is also survived in Mexico by her sister Ma. Eugenia of Cuernavaca, her sister-in-law Carmen Oliveros of Queretaro and many nieces and nephews in Mexico, New Jersey, and Minneapolis. We would like to thank her neighbors, Maggie Fusco and Billy Hardy for their assistance at this difficult time as well as the spiritual guidance of Father John Yanas and Father Ed Kacerguis.
Pilar loved music, dancing, learning, traveling, crocheting, sewing, crafts, baseball and people. She was deeply religious and prayed daily for all her family and friends. God gave her many years of life but He also gave her a youthful and compassionate heart. She touched everyone she met with love and kindness and had a light which emitted through her face. While a devout Roman Catholic and communicant of Sacred Heart Church of Troy, she participated in activities at many churches including the Salem United Methodist Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in West Sand Lake and Loudonville Community Church. She could be found in her last several years enjoying her patio view of Burden Lake with family and friends.
We will miss her more than words can say, but we are thankful for the love, care and tenderness she gave us every day. She would want us to smile, live, love and be happy as we continue with kindness in all our deeds.
Relatives and friends may call at Sacred Heart Church 475 Pawling Avenue Troy on Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 10-11 AM with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11 AM by Rev. John Yanas, Pastor, officiating.
Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery West Sand Lake.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the following in memory of Ma. Pilar. NY Capital Region Hispanic Chamber of Commerce NYCRHCC, PO Box 1266, Albany, NY 12201 or Unity of Troy Inc. 2431 6th Ave, Troy, NY 12180.
Arrangements by DeGraaf-Bryce Funeral Home, Inc. 4392 Route 150 West Sand Lake, 518 674 5790
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