Karen J Smith

Karen Jane Oehlrich Smith, age 61, of Rotterdam, NY, passed away on August 31, 2017. She was surrounded by her entire immediate family the day of her passing. She is survived by her husband, Gerard Smith or Rotterdam; a daughter, Janna Smith of Rotterdam;; a son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Georgina Smith of Highland, NY; and a son, Joseph Smith and his significant other Rebecca Rowback of Broadalbin, NY. The extended family also mourns her loss, especially her brother, Peter Oehlrich, and his wife Marlene of Punta Gorda, FL; and her brother, John Oehlrich, and his wife Patricia also of Punta Gorda, FL. Karen was born in Teaneck, NJ on September 6, 1955 and lived in NJ for several years. Her parents, Henry and Helen Oehlrich moved the family to Cornwall, NY where she lived until graduating from Cornwall High School. After later graduating from Hudson Valley Community College with an Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene. She lived in Albany, NY working for several dentists. She married Gerard on June 25, 1977 in Highland Falls, NY. They bought a house in Rotterdam, NY in 1979 where she lived until her recent passing. She continued working as a Dental Hygienist until she opted to remain home and start a family. After stopping work, but prior to having their own children, Karen and Gerard became short-term foster parents for a local private agency and cared for 167 children over a period of 3 ½ years. After her children had all started school, Karen worked as a Teacher’s Aide in the Mohonasen School District. Her love of children was again on display. She was a Troop Leader in Girl Scout Troop 174 as well as a parishioner at St. Gabriel’s Church where she was a Eucharistic Minister, a religious education teacher, and a choir member until health issues prevented her from doing so. She was also active as a parent supporting whatever organization her children were involved in, from Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Carmen Little League, Rotterdam Girls Softball, St. Gabriel’s CYO basketball, to the Mohonasen Marching Band, Karen loved camping, cooking, watching classic old movies and British comedy programs, and playing Pinochle. Her ‘happy places’ were anywhere there was an ocean or a lake, especially the coast of Maine. She was lucky enough to have spent a week in Wells, Maine with her husband for their 40th wedding anniversary this past June. And yes, she loved all things ‘seafood’. Her favorite local places to go out to eat were Ferrari’s Restaurant and The Blue Ribbon Restaurant, both in Schenectady. As mentioned earlier, she loved to cook. Her Pumpkin Cheesecake, Shepherd’s Pie, Eggplant Parmigiana, Bourbon Pecan Pie, and Christmas Venetian Cookies are legendary. Her nieces and nephews remember her for many things, but especially for all of the ceramics that she made for them for birthday and Christmas gifts throughout their childhoods. Although her life was cut short, she led a full life by anyone’s measure. Cremation was performed at the Vale Cemetery crematorium. Calling hours are Thursday, September 7th from 6 to 8 PM here at the DeMarco-Stone Funeral home, 1605 Helderberg Avenue, Schenectady. Her funeral Mass will be at St. Gabriel’s Church, 3040 Hamburg Street, Schenectady on September 8th at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Karen’s memory to woundedwarriorproject.org.