Elizabeth Bida

AMENIA — Elizabeth Bida, 95, passed away at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck on Jan. 2, 2012. She was the widow of Michael C. Bida.She was born Nov. 11, 1917, in Stratford, Conn., the daughter of the late James Charles McDonald and Elizabeth Ann Spodnick. Elizabeth spent most of her life in Amenia. She graduated Amenia High School and worked as a New York telephone operator and later was the Amenia town clerk, retiring in 1977. She was a grand regent of Catholic Daughters of America (CDA) and in Court Immaculata of Amenia, and later became a member of Court Johanine in Pawling. She was awarded a 50-year pin membership by the CDA on April 22, 1995. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Amenia Fire Company.She is survived by her four children, Michael C. Bida of Rochester, N.Y., the Rev. John Bida of Bangall, N.Y., Gerald T. Bida of Durham, N.C., and Elizabeth A. Bida of Poughkeepsie; a sister, Margaret Mason; five brothers, James McDonald, John McDonald, Francis McDonald, Walter McDonald and William McDonald; and four grandchildren, Michelle Brady Charles, Morgan Bida, Kate Bida and Pierre Michael Bida. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her daughter, Patricia Marie (Bida) Brady; and four siblings, Florence Murray, Mary Niedzielski, Patricia Steward and Edward McDonald.Arrangements are under the care of the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon. A Mass of Christian burial was held Jan. 7 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Amenia. Burial followed at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church in Amenia, the Breast Cancer Foundation, the Ovarian Cancer Foundation or the National Parkinson Foundation.