Jean E (Reisinger) Kirvin

Jean E. Kirvin, a long-time resident of Schenectady, N.Y., died on Friday, March 21, 2014at Fort Hudson Health Care Facility in Ft. Edward, N.Y., after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's robbed Mom of many things, but hardest for her was having her intellect and independence undermined so furtively for so long by something so relentless. We would like to offer our sincere gratitude to the entire staff at Ft. Hudson for your loving care, compassion, perspective, and knowledge. Born in Schenectady, N.Y. on June 19, 1928, Jean was the daughter of the late Carl and Florence (Cameron) Reisinger. She is also predeceased by both of her husbands, John F. Kirvin and Kendall A. Johnson, and her beloved son, Michael K. Kirvin. Tall, elegant, and gracious, Jean cut a posture-perfect, athletic figure.She enjoyed golfing, fishing, gardening (roses), dancing, eating desserts first, poetry, and especially loved every moment spent at her Brant Lake camp.A voracious reader, she always had a book in hand.She loved Handel's "Messiah", the music of the "big bands", The Ray Conniff Singers and the powerful Mormon Tabernacle Choir.She and John "Bud" Kirvin followed Drum & Bugle Corps all over the Eastern Seaboard for major competitions, especially when the Hawthorne "Caballeros" and the New York "Skyliners" competed.Every autumn, they attended the Army-Navy football game, always rooting for Navy since Bud was a former radio/radar man stationed in Alaska during World War II.Jean was active in all of Bud's political campaigns and business ventures, all the while working full-time, raising three children, participating on church committees and volunteering for various organizations.Later in life, Jean and Ken loved to vacation in Maine and Brant Lake together while enjoying shared hobbies such as photography, music, and bird-watching. The cornerstone of Mom's life was her family.Devoted to her children and grandchildren, she encouraged excellence in all endeavors, large or small. While she was making perfect Sunday dinners in the kitchen for her family, Dad was teaching us how to dance in the living room to music they enjoyed together.She always overspent at Christmas, buying "just one more gift" for each of us.She passed along her love of reading, music, and animals to her entire family.To this day, each of us has at least one, if not more, interest or hobby acquired from her.A loving mother and grandmother, we are blessed to have benefited from her constant and devoted attention, guidance, and love. She is survived by two daughters, Anne Kirvin Scheffler (Robert) of South Glens Falls, N.Y., and Kathleen Kirvin Brennan (Thomas) of Ridgefield, Conn., and her daughter-in-law, Mary Palazzo Kirvin, of Schenectady; her grandchildren, Dr. Tristan Hope Kirvin and Thomas J. Brennan (Kristina) of New York City,John P. Brennan of Ridgefield, Conn., and Kyle Marie Varian (Patrick) of Charlotte, N.C.; and two step-grandchildren, Gregory R. Scheffler (Deborah) of Delmar, Md., and Julie A. Hotaling of Gansevoort, N.Y.She is also survived by her sister, Virginia Rodford (Stanley) of Palm Bay, Fla. and her brother-in-law, William M. Kirvin (Bonnie) of Ballston Lake, N.Y., along with many nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to The Fort Hudson Foundation, 319 Broadway, Fort Edward, N.Y. 12828. Calling hours will be on Monday evening from 6-8 pm at the DeMarco - Stone Funeral Home, 1605 Helderberg Ave., Schenectady, N.Y. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church on Hamburg St. in Rotterdam, N.Y. on Tuesday morning 10 am. Interment will be private at a later date at Sts. Cyril and Method Cemetery in Schenectady.