Margarete Habla

Margarete Mary Vertucci Habla, 87, formerly of Schmidt Street, Tribes Hill, NY, passed away Saturday July 29, 2017 at Wilkinson Residential Health Care Center in Amsterdam, NY, after a long illness.

She was one of twelve children born on November 20, 1929 in Fort Johnson, NY; to Pasquale and Josephina DeRose Vertucci.

She was married to Robert G. Habla, Sr. on October 9, 1954 at St. Mary’s Church. He passed away on August 30, 2006.

She graduated from Wilbur H. Lynch High School.

She was employed in the business office of General Electric, Holzheimer & Shaul. In 1970, she became the Administrative Assistant to Rev. Msgr. Edward R. Glavin and then to Rev. James Gulley, for St. Mary’s Church for close to 40 years until her retirement in 2007.

She was a former member of Mohawk Valley Chorus, St. Mary’s Church Choir, St. Mary’s Hospital Advisory Board; St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary and was very dedicated to the many ministries of St. Mary’s Church.

She is survived by her children, Elizabeth “Betsy” (Richard) Barker of Amsterdam, Robert G. Habla, Jr. (predeceased by his wife, Mary) of Tribes Hill, and James (Laurie) Habla of Roswell, GA; her beloved grandchildren, Justin (Sarah) Barker of Scotia, NY; Jonathan Barker of Amsterdam, Hillary and Kelseyliz Habla of Tribes Hill, Christopher and John Habla of Roswell, Ga. Her beloved great-grandchildren, Richard “RJ” and Raina Barker of Scotia, two brothers, Arthur Vertucci (Bernadette) of Fort Johnson, NY and Alfred Vertucci (Mary) of Pennsylvania, sisters-in-law, Nancy Vertucci and Lestra Vertucci, brothers-in-law, Daniel Bellen Sr., and Joseph (Jean) Rogers. Nieces, nephews, cousins and friends also survive.

She was predeceased by her sisters, Catherine St. Amour, Jane Laychak, Lena McCaffrey, Susan Hermance, Marion Bellen , Vera Stangle and Eleanor Clairmont, her brothers, Gabriel and Anthony Vertucci,. She was also predeceased by her daughter-in-law Mary Habla, her nieces, Marlyn (St. Amour) Novak, Carol (Laychak) Auriemma, Cynthia Clairmont, nephew, Gregory St. Amour and sister-in-law, Alma Mary Rogers, other relatives and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial, which will be celebrated by Father Jeffrey L’Arche, Thursday August 3, 2017 at 11:15 at St. Mary’s Church, 156 East Main Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010.

Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Fort Johnson, NY.

Calling hours are Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Riley Mortuary, Inc. 110 Division Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010.

Memorial gifts in Margarete’s name may be made to St. Mary’s Church Capital Restoration Fund c/o Riley Mortuary, Inc. or the Maryelizabeth Habla Scholarship Fund, Northville Central School District, 131 S. Third Street, P.O. Box 608, Northville, NY 12134.