Kathryn Senecca (Butcher) Hoerl

Kathryn Senecca Butcher Hoerl went to her eternal rest on August 22nd 2017, following a six-year battle with cancer. Senecca, as she was known to her friends, was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania on April 23rd, 1957 to Everett and Alice Butcher. She grew up in a Christian home, and was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ her entire adult life. She had a warm personality, a down-to-earth authenticity, and a zest for living that were hard to resist. Senecca loved crafting, traveling – especially cruising, listening to gospel music, reading, and spending time with her family. For twenty years she made and sold crafts as a vendor at the Shaker Society holiday craft sale in Latham. Her happiest times, however, were those spent with family, particularly when her twin granddaughters Henley and Eden were included. Senecca attended Sanford Preparatory High School in Hockessin, Delaware, where she met her future husband Roger Hoerl. Upon graduation, she attended Millersville University near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, earning degrees in both elementary and special education. Upon graduation from Millersville she worked as a middle school teacher, enabling her husband Roger to complete graduate school. A strongly maternal woman, she sacrificed her own career after her daughter Erin and son Jordan were born, preferring to spend as much time with them as possible. While not always employed as a teacher, she was involved in education and worked with children in some capacity the rest of her life. By nature she was generous, compassionate, and drawn to helping others in need. She had a gift for encouraging friends going through difficult times, frequently providing a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry on, or motherly guidance for younger women. She began visiting orphanages in the eastern European country of Bulgaria in 2002, providing some material assistance, but primarily just showing unconditional love to the children, many of who were ethnic minorities and also had special needs. She visited Bulgaria virtually every year after her first trip, until her health would no longer allow her to go. When her husband Roger received a six-month sabbatical from GE Global Research in 2007, he chose to use this time to study the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. Senecca spent a month traveling through Uganda, Zambia, and several regions of South Africa with him and their children Erin and Jordan that year, visiting the “front lines” of the battle against HIV/AIDS. She went back to South Africa several times afterwards, encouraging the sick and dying in their homes and in clinics, again showing unconditional love, and praying for those who desired it. Locally, she volunteered with the City Mission of Schenectady, using her skills as a teacher to help men and women with limited education obtain their GED diplomas, thereby obtaining a second chance in life. Again, she provided significant personal encouragement in addition to academic tutoring. She treated students at the mission with dignity, viewing them as valuable individuals in need of a helping hand, rather than as problems to be fixed. The director of the mission noticed her passion, and asked her to join the City Mission Board of Directors. She accepted, and continued serving on the mission board until her health would no longer allow her to participate. Senecca was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and a true friend to many. She will be remembered by her family and friends for many things, perhaps most as someone who always lived life to the fullest, loved deeply, and showed compassion to those in need. Several friends commented to the family that she was the most generous person they had ever met. Many were inspired by the courage and faith she showed during her battle with cancer. She never felt sorry for herself, and frequently encouraged others who were struggling emotionally with her illness, including her own family. Even as her health declined, she remained focused on how she could help others, rather than on how they might help her. Despite this declining health, she never stopped living life to the fullest. Just prior to entering home hospice care at the beginning of July, she went on a cruise to Bermuda with her family, including her granddaughters. Senecca is survived by her husband of 38 years, Roger Hoerl, a daughter Erin Hoerl Leone of Gainesville, Florida, a son Jordan Hoerl of Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, her parents Everett and Alice Butcher of Avondale, Pennsylvania, five siblings: Everett Butcher Jr. of Avondale, Pennsylvania; Eric Butcher of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania; Tanyka Gilbert of Chester, Virginia; Thomas Butcher of Atlanta, Georgia; and Jacqueline Butcher of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, two granddaughters, Henley and Eden Hoerl of Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Calvary Tabernacle Church, 1840 Albany Street, Schenectady, at 11:00am on Monday, August 28th. A second service is being arranged in Pennsylvania for family and friends in that area. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to “In His Presence”, a spiritual support group for women battling cancer; details may be obtained from the family.