GANSEVOORT — James Buchholz, age 57, passed away on December 9th, 2021, at Saratoga Hospital. A funeral service was held on Friday, December 17 at Compassionate Funeral Care, 402 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs. Visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com.

BUSKIRK — Gloria J. Abbott, age 75, peacefully passed away on Saturday, December 4, 2021, at her home in Buskirk, NY. The family will be having a private celebration of life. Visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Gerald P. Hennigan, 88, passed peacefully on December 12 surrounded by family. Calling hours are 9-10 a.m., Monday December 20, 2021 followed by service at Burke Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Saratoga National Cemetery. Please visit  www.burkefuneralhome.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Constance M. Foley (nee Burns), 90, died December 2, 2021.  In lieu of flowers, her family asks that you cherish your loved ones and aid those who are less fortunate. Mass 10 a.m., December 17, 2021 Church of St. Peter, followed by burial in Greenridge Cemetery. burkefuneralhome.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Charles A. Carlson, 98, passed away on December 10, 2021. Calling hours were December 14. Mass took place December 15 at Church of St. Peter followed by burial in St. Peter’s cemetery. Memorial donations to Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. burkefuneralhome.com 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Carmen Estrada Contento (nee Maria de Carmen Estrada Aceituno) died on September 25, 2021 at home in Saratoga Springs with her devoted husband Ed at her side. Carmen was born October 15, 1936 in Palin, Guatemala. The only girl among three brothers, she grew up caring for others.

She came to the US in her twenties to work as an au pair to the family of a professor at Purdue University in Indiana. Then she went to New York City to work in the fashion industry as a hatter, dress designer, and Jill of all trades. Carmen studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology but was unable to graduate due to lack of funds. Sewing continued to be a way to express her delight in colors and fabrics both for herself and for others.

Carmen began her dance studies in Guatemala and continued in NYC. She studied all forms of dance: ballet, tango, belly, flamenco, but mostly folk dances of Central and South America, the Middle East, Spain, Africa and India. At one point she studied with Alicia Alonso, the prima ballerina from Cuba.

Carmen loved dancing and worked in all kinds of venues. She worked for the NYC school system during Mayor John Lindsay’s administration in the 1960s, teaching both dance and Latin culture. She even performed in a few NYC nightclubs. Eventually she became a naturalized US Citizen. Carmen performed with her husband at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, Crandall Library, and Ballston Spa High School, and they had a year-long exhibit at the National Museum of Dance: Dance Culture of Guatemala.

Carmen was a multi-talented person in dance, textile, cooking, and loving her fellow humans. She was a selfless person who would give a stranger shelter, food, clothing, and Christian love, never thinking of her own needs. Her powerful Christian faith was both strength and solace for her. Chapter 53 of the Book of Isaiah was her favorite.

Travel with her husband to Europe, China and Central America filled vacations, but Carmen and Ed particularly enjoyed visiting her family in Guatemala. She even smuggled Bibles into China when they were forbidden.

Carmen will be painfully missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her husband, Edward Contento; a brother, Carlos Aceituno, as well as many nephews and nieces in Guatemala; nephews and nieces in the States; and several god-children. Please do not send flowers to mourn her. Celebrate her life! If you wish, please donate in Carmen’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com

QUEENSBURY — Dr. Hyung Rin Kim, 94, peacefully passed away on December 4, 2021, with his family by his side. Dr. Kim (as most knew him) fought a long fight against Alzheimer’s. Every day of this fight, his wife of 65 years, Eleonora Pallante Kim, was at his side. His last words to her were “I love you.” Their devotion to each other is everlasting.

Dr. Kim, born on October 30, 1927, in Pyungannam-Do, Korea, was the son of Ki Woo and Num Ei Kim. His parents, his younger sister, Hyung Sook Kim, who he believed predeceased him during the chaos of the Korea War, were all medical doctors. He carried on this legacy of medical care when he graduated in 1949 from Severance Union Medical College, aka Yonsei University Medical School. While he was completing his surgical residency, the Korean War broke out and he served from 1950 to 1953 as a battlefield surgeon, attached to the 101st Army Division of the Republic of Korea (South). During his service, he was taken prisoner by Chinese troops, but eventually was able to escape. In 1953, Dr. Kim immigrated to the United States, eventually becoming an American citizen on December 21, 1961. Dr. Kim was a general surgeon for more than 50 years, many of those at Glens Falls Hospital and the former Corinth Hospital. He was a fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and International College of Surgeons. He loved his work taking care of people, healing them when he could and consoling them when medicine and science were inadequate.

Dr. Kim is survived by his wife, Eleonora Pallante Kim, his children: Paul (Sandy) of Paris, VA, Ron (Jennifer) of Saratoga Springs, Ellen “Ellie” of Corinth, Andrew (Rebecca Riley) of Los Angeles, CA and Beverly (Jim) Turner of Hudson, NY. His pride and joy were his grandchildren: Harrison (Kayla) Kim of Austin, TX, Melissa (Brandon) Whitehead of Reston, VA, Rebecca (Jake Griffin) Kim of Boston, MA, Elizabeth (Shawn DePasquale) Kim of Los Angeles, CA, Stephen Kim of Saratoga Springs, Riley Kim and Carlo Kim of Los Angeles and Jordan Turner, New York, NY and Jenna Turner, Guilderland, NY. 

Relatives and friends gathered to remember him Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at the Singleton Sullivan Potter Funeral Home at 407 Bay Road, Queensbury, NY, 518-793-4459. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, December 9, 2021, at Our Lady of the Annunciation, 448 Aviation Road, Queensbury, followed by a graveside service at Pine View Cemetery, 21 Quaker Road, also in Queensbury. The family would like to thank Dr. John Myers, Lowanna Ayers, Maura Huntz and the entire staff of High Peaks Hospice for their support and compassion over the months and years.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Highs Peaks Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. 454 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY at www.higpeakshopisce.org     

Those who wish may make online condolences by visiting sbfuneralhome.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mrs. Gina Scala Bachner, 94, passed away peacefully in Saratoga Springs on December 1, 2021, where she had been a resident for the past six years. She was predeceased by her brothers, C. George Scala and James M. Scala, who passed away in November 2007 and January 2021, respectively.

Gina Maria Scala was born on June 8, 1927, in Utica, the only daughter and middle child of the late Carmine George and Mary Jane (Ferlo) Scala. Raised in Clinton, NY, Gina spent her childhood with many extended family members from the surrounding areas of Rome and Utica. She graduated from Clinton High School in 1945, and in 1949, received her BS degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego (formerly known as Oswego State Teachers College) where she was an active member of the Arethusa Sorority, and excelled in field hockey, soccer, basketball, and softball.

Wanting to make a difference in the lives of young children, Gina was thrilled at the prospect of becoming a teacher. During her senior year of college, she accepted a first-grade teaching position at the former Kingsboro Elementary School in Gloversville, NY. Gina remained in Gloversville, raised four children, and returned to teaching full time, initially at Park Terrace Elementary and subsequently at McNab Elementary School. She was an active member of the Gloversville PTA, Troop Leader for both the Brownies and Girl Scouts, member of St. Mary’s Church, Sacred Heart Church, and the Church of the Holy Spirit. She served as a tutor and mentor for many children of various ages during her tenure as a schoolteacher.

Gina retired from her teaching career in 1989. In retirement, she became an adoring “Nana” to her ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, whom she loved and cherished above all. Gina was devoted to college and professional basketball, football, and youth baseball, and any sport in between season. Regular visits and phone calls from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the highlight of her life. 

Gina touched the lives of many with her compassion, care, and kindness. An accomplished athlete and avid sports fan, especially anything related to Syracuse basketball, she was a talented knitter, seamstress, and needle pointer, leaving behind many treasures for future generations to enjoy. She was a devout Catholic, who placed her faith in God above all. Gina is to be forever remembered for her wisdom, indomitable spirit, spunk, sense of humor, positive, optimistic, and cheerful disposition, and most importantly, her willingness to offer her physical, mental, and emotional help and support to those in need, including her former students, her many friends, and her beloved family.

Gina’s spirit lives on through her four children and their spouses, including her son Mark (Karen) Bachner of Cicero, NY, and daughters, M. Lynn Bachner of Saratoga Springs, Suzanne Bachner (Hugh Davis) of Saratoga Springs, and Amy Hartwell of Billerica, MA; her ten wonderful grandchildren, Jonathan and Timothy Bachner, Jameson and Cameron Toole, Peter and John Davis, and Sara (Aubert) Ndjolba, Bobby, Kelsey, and Abigail Hartwell; three great-grandchildren, Olivia, Amelia, and Isaiah Ndjolba; as well as many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at The Historic Church of Saint Peter, located at 241 Broadway, Saratoga Springs on Friday, December 10, 2021, at 10 a.m. The Rev. Thomas H. Chevalier will be the celebrant. Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery located in Clinton, NY in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/give.html, Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation at www.helpfightra.org, or Rheumatology Research Foundation at www.rheumresearch.org.

Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Elizabeth “Betty” N. Ponessa, 89, passed December 3, 2021 surrounded by her loving family. Calling hours  9-10:30 a.m. at Burke Funeral Home, Friday December 10, followed by Mass of Christian Burial 11 a.m. St. Clements Church, and burial St. Peter’s Cemetery. Memorial donations to Community Hospice of Saratoga. burkefuneralhome.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS –— William “Bill” Andrew LeRoux Jr., 82, passed November 25, 2021. Calling hours 9:30, Saturday, December 11 at Church of St. Peter followed by Mass at 10 a.m. and burial at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Memorial donations to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306. www.burkefuneralhome.com