Louise E. Neri

Schenectady – Mrs. Louise Ellen Neri, age 86, passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 2, 2024, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Her last moments of life were spent with the love and support of her family at her side.

Louise was born in Gloversville, NY on February 15, 1938. She was the daughter of the late Jean Baptiste Gendron and Blanche (Fancher) Gendron and was educated in Gloversville schools. On August 10, 1957, she was united in marriage with Paul Bruno Neri, and it was a blessed union of 66 years.

Louise and Paul lived most of their life in Rotterdam, NY raising their four daughters. Louise worked for a local department store, The Carl Company, for 18 years. She then went on to work as a teacher’s aide for the disabled in the Schenectady School District, for 10 years, before retiring. As a mother of a child with down’s syndrome, Louise spent much of her parenting years connecting with other local mothers of children with down’s syndrome. They formed a working group of parents with a shared mission of helping their handicapped children, and others like them, to live their best life. Together, she and the others spent many years advocating for the rights and opportunities of children with developmental disabilities. The group met with local doctors, educators, and politicians to try to bring about real change in the mindset of many that wanted to shun the mentally disabled. Louise and the others joined the fight for the mainstreaming of children with special needs into the classrooms of public schools and their efforts were successful. They fought to close institutions and supported the formation of group homes where the disabled could get more individualized care in more of a home like setting. As their children became adults, the advocacy became about searching for adequate social and recreational programs to stimulate their children and make them feel valued as a participant of society. This lifetime responsibility that Louise was handed and the struggles that came with it revealed to those around her the abundance of strength, resolve, and love that Louise possessed.

The losses and hardships Louise faced in her youth presented her with a profound sense of understanding about life. She loved to talk, and she would talk for hours at a time with family and friends, willing and loving to share her wisdom with them.

Louise’s family was extremely important to her, and she loved spending time with them. The family enjoyed their many gatherings they were fortunate to experience together. She especially enjoyed times spent with her grandchildren.

Louise is predeceased by her parents and five brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband, Paul B. Neri, her children Jean (John) O’Donnell, Sharon Neri, Shelley (Chris) LaVallee, Lisa (Eddie) Nieves, her grandchildren Nicki (Marc) O’Donnell, Calvin LaVallee, Cameron LaVallee, and Devin Nieves, her sister Jean Parrillo, several nieces and nephews, and her long-time caregiver, who became like a daughter to her, Karen Cross.

A wake will be held at St. Madeleine Sophie Church, 3500 Carman Road, Schenectady, NY 12303, on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, from 10 to 11:30 am. A Catholic Mass will be offered at 11:30am. Afterward, the burial will be at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery at 2501 Troy-Schenectady Road, Niskayuna, NY 12309. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601. Arrangements by DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home, Rotterdam. Condolences can be posted at demarcostonefuneralhome.com.