Rodney "Rod" Pritchard

Rodney “Rod” Pritchard, 71, of Little Falls, passed away peacefully with his wife by his side, in his home on April 23, 2024 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Rod was born in Ilion, New York on February 20, 1953, the son of the late Carl and Doris (Lanphere) Pritchard. He was a 1972 graduate of Mohawk High School. Upon graduation, Rod began working with his father in the family-owned roofing business noting that “the taller the building, the better the experience.” Rod also was employed at Folts Home in Herkimer in the maintenance department. In 1992, Rod became employed by United Cerebral Palsy in Herkimer as a Mental Health Advisor having retired in 2017. Rod was held in high regard both by fellow staff and program participants. His kindness and understanding for the individuals he worked with was second to none. Rod was also a Boy Scout leader for many years having served the youth in the Town of Columbia.

On November 4, 2005 Rod was married to the love of his life, Elizabeth (Cotter) Pritchard at the First Presbyterian Church in Little Falls by the Rev. Jon Noble and together they celebrated 18 years of marriage this past November.

Rod is survived by his beloved family which includes his wife, Elizabeth Pritchard, his daughters, Heather Pritchard and Christine Pritchard (Kyle Ford), and step-daughters, Shauna Cone, Laura and Manny Cruz and Ellen Cone. He also leaves his beloved grandchildren, Crishonda, Shontashia, Demetsia, Jao, Kavonna, Halonna, Havanna and Manuel along with great grandchildren Arian and Julius. Rod is also survived by his brother Carl and his wife Marguerite Pritchard, sister Mary Ann and her husband Bill Keeler and sisters-in-law and their husbands, Noreen and Stan Zysk and Cathy and Dave Carpineti, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Rod was predeceased by his parents, Carl and Doris Pritchard, brother, Wayne Pritchard, his father and mother in-law, Robert and Helen Cotter, brothers-in-law, Ed Cotter and Jimmy and Ann Cotter and nephews, David Keeler, Jim Zysk and Jason Sullivan.

Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects at Mohawk Valley Funerals and Cremations on Saturday, April 27 from 11am-12pm with funeral services commencing at 12 also on Saturday with Deacon James Bower, officiating. Burial will be private at a later date at St. Mary’s Cemetery, town of Herkimer.  Kindly consider and send contributions in his memory to Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 4277 Middle Settlement Rd., New Hartford, NY 13413.  The Hospice staff took wonderful care of Rod and his family during his final days.