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Mrs. Sarah V. Relyea | Visitation:
Tuesday, April 29, 2009
5:00 PM until 8:00 PM
Sweet's Funeral Home, Inc.
4365 Albany Post Road
P.O. Box 682
Hyde Park, NY 12538
Service:
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
11:00 AM
Graveside Service
Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery
Rte. 9
Poughkeepsie, NY
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| | | Poughkeepsie - Sarah V. Relyea, a lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley, passed away at Vassar Brothers Medical Center on Friday April 24, 2009.
Sarah was born June 2, 1920 in Tavaris, Florida, the daughter of the late John and Katherine Volf. She was one of several sisters.
Her life as a child was difficult at times stemming from losing her mother when she was only two years old. She bounced from home to home as a foster child but never lost her determination to create a better life for herself. She finally settled in Poughkeepsie when she was fourteen years of age where her life stabilized. At the age of nineteen, she met her soon to be husband, Wilbur Relyea, and spent the next sixty-four years with him. Wilbur passed in 2003.
Sarah and Wilbur had five daughters of whom they were very proud. They are Joan Krebs and husband, Jack, of Aiken, SC, Penny Guercio of Hyde Park, Donna Maniscalco of VA, Renee Townsend and husband, Jim, of Pleasant Valley and son-in-law, Ron Hill, of Hyde Park.
Sarah was predeceased by a daughter, Claudette Hill, and sons-in-law, John Guercio and Peter Maniscalco.
Sarah is survived by fifteen grandchildren, twenty-six great grand children, and two great-great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was extremely proud of the size of her family and constantly talked about her many grandchildren.
Sarah’s education started with her graduation from Poughkeepsie High School and continued with love of music which she graduated from Kingston Conservatory of Music. In 1938, she was awarded the NYS Champion of the French Horn. She was also an avid swimmer and lifeguard and took the challenge of swimming the Hudson River from Poughkeepsie to Highland several times.
Her work life was filled with many challenges she enjoyed. She was an occupational therapist for twenty-three years for NYS and continued in the same field working for the Baptist Nursing Home in Rhinebeck until she retired.
Sarah continued with her love of music and art for many years in both venues as a teacher and player of the organ and creating painted murals for local businesses. She even was interviewed by a local college to discuss life in Poughkeepsie during the 1940’s.
When talking about Sarah you must also mention one other thing, her love of horses and animals. She boarded horses and loved to take care of them.
Sarah loved life and its challenges and always fought for what was right. She will be missed.
Calling hours will be from 5 to 8 pm, Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at Sweet’s funeral Home, Inc., Rte. 9, Hyde Park.
Graveside services and burial will be at 11 am, Wednesday, April 29th at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105.
To send a condolence or for directions, please visit www.sweetsfuneralhome.com.
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