SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Maureen Anita Colonell, 79, passed away peacefully on Friday October 16, 2026, at Albany Medical after a long battle with dementia.

Born on February 9,1947, in Worcester, MA to James E and Rosemary (Hazard) Benton. She was second in what became a brood of 12. She attended St Peter’s High School. In 1968 she graduated from D’Youville University with a BS in nursing. That year she also married the love of her life, William “Bill” Colonell. She had 4 children and 3 grandchildren.

She resided in Saratoga Springs and Wilton most of her life. She also lived in Germany and Massachusetts while her husband served in the Army. She was a devoted Catholic and communicant of St Clements Church.

She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, helping others, tennis, a good meal and libation, and traveling with her husband. Especially to the shores of Cape Cod.

She worked at Saratoga Hospital from maternity to care management for 30 plus years. She organized Red Cross blood drives, served on the SCPH board for 15 years, Catholic Charities board, and The American Cancer Society committee.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Bill, her brother Dermott, and her child Gerard Benton Colonell.

She is survived by her daughter Rebecca (Jerry) Hilliker, son Andrew (Robyn) Colonell, her daughter Amanda Colonell, her son Matthew Colonell, her brother James, brother Larry (Leslie), brother Phillip (Dodi), sister Bernice (Frank) Greer, sister Kate (Steve), sister Vicky (Bill), brother Chris (Lisa), sister Liz, brother Vincent, sister Agatha, 3 grandchildren, Rocco, Avery, Violet, 6 nieces and nephews and many cousins.

Special thanks to her daughter Amanda, who took care of her for the last 6 years. 

Her kindness and compassion for people were boundless, her smile and sense of humor, infectious and her love and warmth will be truly missed.

Services are Friday October 23, at St Clements Church on 231 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs. A visitation will be held from 10AM to 11AM, with a Mass of Christian burial at 11AM and burial to follow at St Peter’s Cemetery.

Online remembrances may be made at wwwburkefuneralhome.com.

Elizabeth Jean (Dowd) Beaury, 55, of Ballston Spa, NY, passed away unexpectedly at home on October 11, 2026.

Beth was born in Hudson, New York on November 23, 1970, to Stephen and Joan Dowd. She attended Seymour Smith Elementary School in Pine Plains, NY, Canajoharie Central School in Canajoharie, NY, and graduated from Kofa High School in Yuma, Arizona.

Beth — or “Mom,” which she loved more than anything to be called — was the most dedicated and loving person you could meet. Her entire life was lived to give the best life she possibly could to her two boys, Thomas and Taylor. They were her pride and joy. She celebrated their accomplishments, supported them through their challenges, and was always their biggest supporter. Being their mom wasn’t simply part of Beth’s life — it was the part of her life she treasured most.

Beth’s love for her boys also brought her into the wrestling world, and it became a huge part of her life in its own right. She loved her Saratoga wrestling family and the entire Section 2 wrestling community. Wrestling gave our family a place in the world and brought people into Beth’s life who became much more than teammates, coaches, parents and friends. If her boys were wrestling, Beth was there, and along the way she became just as invested in supporting the people around them. 

Beth carried that same love and dedication into her work. She loved all her students and cherished the past several years she spent making memories with her work family at the Saratoga Springs City School District’s Transportation Department. The students she encountered and the people she worked alongside weren’t simply part of her job — they became part of her life.

That was Beth.

She loved people, and people loved her. She had a kind, generous and caring soul and would give someone her last dollar if she thought they needed it more than she did. She loved to laugh, loved her family fiercely, and never needed much for herself as long as the people she loved were taken care of.

Beth was predeceased by her husband, Tom (1971–2026), as well as her grandparents, Al and Muriel Jean Dowd and Chester and Rebecca Craig.

Beth’s greatest pride and joy were her two beloved sons, Thomas Beaury, and his wife, Tiffany, and Taylor Beaury, who will forever hold a special place in her heart.

She is also survived by her three sisters, Amy Quinn (Shawn), Jenny Parsons (Steve), and Deirdre Stone (Scott); her many nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly and whose accomplishments made her incredibly proud; as well as her aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Beth had a special love for sunflowers and her favorite colors, yellow and blue — simple things that will forever bring a little piece of Beth back to the people who loved her.

Friends may call at Brewer Funeral Home, 24 Church St., Lake Luzerne, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, October 23.

A celebration of Beth’s life will be held at Rockwell Falls Presbyterian Church in Lake Luzerne on Saturday, October 24, at 10 a.m., followed by a reception for family and friends to gather and share memories of our beloved Beth. 

July 29, 1960 – September 9, 2026

BALLSTON SPA – Donald E. Morehouse, 66, of Ballston Spa died September 9, 2026, after a long battle with cancer.

Born in Saratoga Springs on July 29, 1960, he was the son of the late Harley and Eleanor Morehouse. Don was a 1978 graduate of Ballston Spa High School. Don was a fabricator at Bobrick in Clifton Park, NY. He was an active member of the Ballston Spa Elks. He was also a member of the Eagles Club and a past member of the Eagle Matt Lee Fire Company #1. He enjoyed playing softball, bowling, and spent many nights shooting darts at the Elk’s Club. Don is survived by his brother Bill (Denise) Morehouse of Ballston Spa, nephew Christopher (Heather) Morehouse of Philmont, NY, niece Heather (Brian) Gile of Valatie, NY, great nephews Mason, Brian Jr., Derek, Carter, great nieces Hayleigh and Arrianna and special friend and caregiver Kelsi Staulters. Don was very, very proud of his great nephew Mason Morehouse for joining the US Marine Corps.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK – Julie Elizabeth Learned, 50, passed away on October 5, 2026. A devoted mother, cherished daughter, beloved sister, loyal friend, compassionate educator, and lifelong learner, Julie touched countless lives through her kindness, authenticity, and genuine care for others.

Born on March 25, 1976, in Sylvania, Ohio, Julie was the daughter of William Wells Learned Jr. and Cathy Piotraschke Hess. Throughout her life, she called many places home, including Toledo and Columbus, Ohio; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Truckee, California; Seattle, Washington; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Madison, Wisconsin; Albany, New York; and Saratoga Springs, New York. Each place held a special meaning for Julie, not only for the cities themselves, but for the people and communities she encountered along the way. She had a way of leaving a little bit of her light everywhere life took her.

Julie was deeply committed to education and the pursuit of knowledge. Her academic journey reflected her curiosity and dedication to understanding others. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from The Ohio State University, a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning from Harvard University, and a second Master of Education in Special Education from the University of Washington. She went on to earn a Doctor of Philosophy in Education from the University of Michigan.

As an Associate Professor in the University at Albany’s School of Education, Julie infused the Department of Educational Theory and Practice with a deep passion for learning and compassion for others. Her research interests focused on literacy and equity, youth literacies, disciplinary literacy, and English education. In Saratoga Springs, she became a vital part of the Yoga Mandali community, finding a profound sense of belonging and peace. These friendships, alongside the many lasting bonds she nurtured across every chapter of her life, were among her most treasured gifts.

Above all, Julie was an incredible mother. Her children, Ezra Learned-Levy, 13, and Otis Learned-Levy, 11, were at the heart of her life. She loved them with extraordinary devotion, patience, and tenderness. Her fierce love for Ezra and Otis was a defining part of who she was, and her vibrant spirit will live on through the lives, values, and futures of her beloved children.

Julie is also survived by her children’s father, Brett Levy; her mother, Cathy Piotraschke Hess and husband Mel Hess; her brother, William Wells Learned III, his wife, Nozomi, and their children, Moon and Cosmo; and her sister, Amanda Neuendorf, her husband, Greg, and their children, Jace and Quinn. She was preceded in death by her father, William Wells Learned Jr.

Julie was an irreplaceable sister, loyal friend, and a genuinely good human. She possessed a rare combination of strength and gentleness, meeting the world with a patient spirit and a heart that was kind without reservation. Those who knew her knew the comfort of being truly seen and the gift of having someone wholeheartedly in their corner.

Her life was enriched by a vast network of friends, colleagues, and loved ones. Though the communities she touched are too numerous to name, she left an undeniable impact on everyone she met, pouring care into every connection. While her loss is immeasurable, the love she gave will live on forever in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know her. She will be profoundly missed.

Family and friends are invited to call on Sunday, October 18, at the William J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home in Saratoga Springs, from 1 PM – 3 PM. A funeral home service will follow at 3 PM. Burial will be private.