SARATOGA SPRINGS — Angeline M. LaBelle, whose unwavering cheer, gentle nature and quiet strength inspired generations of family and friends, died Sunday, July 5, 2015 following a brief illness. She was 97.
The youngest daughter of six children born to Gennaro “Jerry” Lamberti and Johanna (“Jennie”) Caputo Lamberti, “Angie” was born in Saratoga Springs on January 13, 1918. Upon graduation from Saratoga High School, she worked as a Court Clerk and stenographer at Saratoga County Children's Court, now Family Court, from 1936-1952. On November 6, 1952, she married Francis “Jock” LaBelle, whose exploits as a referee for the Harlem Globetrotters novelty basketball team, college basketball and assistant trainer for heavyweight boxer “Bicycle” Bob Pastor would earn him induction into the Saratoga Springs Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. “Jock and Angie” remained together and in love until his death at the age of 81 in 1986.
Her husband was also the Recreation Director and Jockeys' Room Supervisor at Saratoga Race Course and later, Delaware Park, Hialeah Park in Florida and Atlantic City Racecourse in New Jersey. That necessitated traveling throughout the year with their three children – daughters Theresa and Mary Beth and son, Francis Jr. – and it was Angie who orchestrated the moves back and forth from Saratoga, re-enrollment of her children at different schools during the year and the establishment of the family's household.
Although Angie never got a driver's license, her personality always put her in high demand as a traveling companion. She was always up for a road trip and any new adventure. She loved nature, especially horses. She loved people and she loved desserts.
Angie had out-lived her husband, parents, siblings, most of her friends and even some nieces and nephews, but never forgot them. She cherished her memories of all. And then she went out and made new friends.
A communicant of St. Peter's Church in her early years, she was an active parishioner at St. Clement's later on. She served as Grand Regent for the Catholic Daughters of America, and enjoyed her membership and participation in the projects of the Ladies of Charity. She prayed the Rosary daily.
Barely five-foot tall, Angie's spirit was gigantic. She took an interest in anyone she met and put her strong faith to practice every day. Her recovery from quadruple by-pass surgery in 1999 and a bad fall and head injury four years ago, amazed all who knew her. Until recently, she attended the gym at 6 Care Lane three times a week and would train on the Nu-Step machine for an hour each time. It was her iron will and the concerted efforts of her family that allowed her to live in her own home up until three weeks ago.
Angie is survived by her daughters Theresa and her husband, David Tomlinson of Eliot, ME and Mary Beth Printsky of Saratoga Springs, widow of the late Mark Printsky; her son, Francis; two grandsons, Mark Tomlinson of Portsmouth, NH and Shane Tomlinson of Jamaica Plain, MA plus many nieces and nephews and their children.
Family and friends remembered her on Friday, July 10, 2015 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of Saratoga Springs. A Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of her long, rich life was held on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at the Church of St Peter, 241 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, followed by interment at St. Peter's Cemetery, also in Saratoga Springs.
