Margaret J. Hurd

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Margaret J. Hurd, nee Johnson, who joined her late husband Walter S. Hurd Jr. (Bucky) on May 4, 2025.  Margaret was born and raised in Schenectady to the late Bertrum and Mary Johnson on July 19, 1946. Margaret attended Schenectady Public Schools and graduated from Mont Pleasant Hight School in 1965.  After graduation Margaret went on to become an LPN and worked at Ellis Hospital until she found her real calling working in a nursing home caring for elderly patients who she treated with the utmost compassion.

While in High School Margaret told her best friend Kathy Hurd that she was going to marry Kathy’s brother and on April 2, 1966, she married the love of her life Bucky Hurd and together they raised two sons Andy and Tommy.  Because of Margaret’s love of taking care of elderly patients Margaret decided to attend Maria College to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing and became a Registered Nurse.  During her time at Maria, Margaret worked as a full-time nurse in a local nursing home, was a full-time student at Maria College, completed the required internship and was a full-time wife and mother.  Margaret was truly committed to her family and profession.

Because of Margaret’s work ethic, compassion and love of doing the right thing Margaret progressed through the ranks and became the unit manager at Hallmark Nursing Home and then Director of Nursing at Julie Blair where she continued her career taking care of her patients with compassion and love until she retired in 2012. After retirement Margaret and Bucky lived life to the fullest and they were two peas in a pod, wherever Margaret was you know that Bucky was at her side. They continued their 20-year string of Saturday night card games with Mary and Warren Oliver and Jo and Gary Howe, their lifelong friends.  They traveled to Arizona every winter with Mary Oliver where Margaret loved the heat, visiting family in California, traveling and exploring the Rockies, shopping flea markets and most importantly going to Las Vegas to visit the casinos where Margaret was one of the luckiest gamblers and knew when to quit. Margaret also loved exploring Michigan with her son Tommy and his family, Traci and Morgan.

When back in Schenectady Margaret and Bucky were founding members of the Bellevue Preservation Association, ensuring that the residents and visitors to Bellevue had a better place to live and visit. Margaret and Bucky also belonged to a Friday golf league at Brier Creek Golf Club. Margaret was a master dessert chef and baked exquisite desserts for her son’s Andy’s restaurant, The Dug Out, in Galway NY.  You could also find Margaret in November working as a poll worker for the County of Schenectady Board of Elections where she loved talking to neighbors and assured of the integrity of our voting system, you could find no more trustworthy person than Margaret.  The world has lost a most wonderful person, and she will remain in our hearts.

Margaret was predeceased by her parents Bertrum and Mary Johnson, her husband Walter S. Hurd Jr. (Bucky), her brother Clifford Johnson, her sister Maureen Fitzsimmons and her uncle Father James Kelly, mother in-law Jennie Hurd and father in-law Walter S. Hurd Sr, and good friend Ruth Donohue.

Margaret is survived by her two sons Andrew Hurd (Joslyn) of Schenectady and Thomas Hurd (Traci) of Michigan, her grandchildren Mary-anne, Thomas Hurd Jr, and Morgan Hurd, her sister Judy DiSantis (Richard).  Margaret is also survived by her best friend, sister-in-law and partner in crime Kathy Sparre nee Hurd, her sister in-law Jacqueline Hurd, brother’s in-law Gregory Hurd and Larry Stanley.  Margaret leaves behind her nieces and nephews Kimberly, Gena (Tom), Christine, Cara (Mike), Matthew (Rebecca-deceased), Deborah (Rob), Jim, Jullia, Jason.

Visitation will be held Wednesday from 10-11:30 am at DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home 1605 Helderberg Ave., Rotterdam.

A prayer service will immediately follow at 11:30.

Margaret will be laid to rest at Sts. Cyril & Method Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made at demarcostonefueralhome.com