Catherine A. (Kay) Belden, 66

Catherine A. (Kay) Belden, 66, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 23, 2010, at the Albany Medical Center after a long illness.

Born Jan. 15, 1944, in Whitehall, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth Bartholomew and the late Anne (Costantino) Ward.

She is survived by her stepmother, Lillian Bartholomew.

Kay graduated from Whitehall High School, class of 1961. During young adulthood, and while raising her small children, she completed a course of study and received her cosmetology license. Kay was employed by many local hair salons over the years. She thoroughly enjoyed customer service and had also worked in many local restaurants, including The Skene Manor, The Montcalm, The Tropicana, The Ashe Rose Inn, and The Somewhere, among others. Kay was a devoted mother and worked tirelessly to provide for her family. She was truly an exquisite woman, inside and out.

She married Earl (Yogi) Belden on Sept. 2, 1988. They enjoyed 21½ wonderful years together.

Kay loved to sing with the Whitehall Methodist Church choir. She also enjoyed the karaoke gang and looked forward to being there with friends. Other interests include painting, writing short stories, cooking, and spending time with family. In the mid ‘90s, she received credits from ACC for an art class in which she had enrolled in. Kay is now reunited with her precious dog Gidget, who died 10 years ago.

Besides her loving husband and her stepmother, Kay is survived by her brothers, Kenneth Bartholomew Jr. of Whitehall, Hugh and Jack Smith, both of the Oneonta area, and Americo Ross of New Jersey; her children, Marcy L. Gordon and her companion, Dennis Illsley, of Whitehall, Angel M. Arquette and her companion, Rob Faxon, of Granville and Donna K. Daigle and her husband, Dan, of Granville; three stepchildren, Sandy McGinnis of Granville, Jeffrey Belden of Whitehall, and Kim Perry of Whitehall; six grandchildren Brad Gordon and Catherine (Katie) Cook of Whitehall, Christopher McClure of Poultney, Vt., Nathan Carroll of Granville, and Amber and Dylan Daigle of Granville. Kay had one great-grandchild, Jasmine Cook of Whitehall, and another one due in May.

A prayer service was conducted on Sunday, March 28, with the Rev. Michael Flannery officiating at the Jillson Funeral Home, 46 Williams St., Whitehall, N.Y. 12887. Burial will be at Greenmount Cemetery at a later date. Calling hours were held Sunday, March 28, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Whitehall Methodist Church, Box 56, Greenmount Cemetery Lane, Whitehall, N.Y. 12887

Many special thanks to Drs. Smith and Hossanah at Albany Medical Center for working tirelessly to help our beloved mother (wife). To all the nurses and staff, Building D3 Medical ICU, thank you for making Kay comfortable. You are remarkable people.

Thank you to Dr. Stoutenburg of Glens Falls Hospital for your help over the years. And a special thank you to the Rev. Virginia Deyo of the Whitehall Methodist Church for your visits, kind words, and prayers.

Thank you to all of Kays many friends, for your cards and thoughts. She appreciated it so much.

Our hearts are now broken, but you are now free, forever in our memory, you will always be. We love you.