Gertrude Ada Malarchuk

PINE PLAINS — Gertrude Ada Malarchuk, 86, a longtime resident of Pine Plains, died at Sharon Hospital on Jan. 8, 2011. She was the widow of Peter Malarchuk Jr., whom she married on Nov. 19, 1945. He died on Dec. 27, 1974.

Born on Feb. 3, 1924, Gertrude was the daughter of the late Ada (Scutt) and James Filippini of Pine Plains.

Gertrude lived most of her life in Pine Plains and spent the last four years living in Sharon with her daughter.

She was an avid reader, she loved to crochet and family was everything to her. Gertrude was happiest when she was doing for others.

In her early teens, Gertrude worked as a nanny in New York City. She later worked at IBM during World War II.

She spent many years working on the family farm with her husband. She later worked as a school bus driver and then as a lunch lady at the Stissing Mountain Middle/High School in Pine Plains until her retirement in the late 1990s. She was loved by all whose lives she touched.

Gertrude is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, MaryAnn and William Hale of Sharon; her son and daughter-in-law, John and Piper-Lori Malarchuk of Pine Plains; a foster son, Christopher Hoffman of Geer Village in North Canaan; a sister, Jeannette Malarchuk of Millerton; four grandchildren, William Hale Jr. of Amenia, Christopher Hale and his wife, Tina, of Sharon, Laurena Moy and her husband, Daniel, of Pine Plains, and Larissa Malarchuk of Freehold; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Gertrude was predeceased by her brother, James Filippini; and her sister, Harriet Morill.

Funeral services were held at Saint Anthony’s Church in Pine Plains on Jan. 11.  Interment followed in the Evergreen Cemetery in Pine Plains.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Saint Bernard’s Church in Sharon or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are under the care of the Peck and Peck Funeral Home in Pine Plains.