Bertha Hatlee Smith

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Bertha Hatlee Smith, 84, passed peacefully on Wednesday, August 31, 2016, while residing at Gateway House of Peace. Bert put up quite a fight against cancer. She was born on September 1, 1931 at home on Farm to Market Rd. in Halfmoon, to the late William and Bertha (Sweet) Hatlee. She was a 1950 graduate of Burnt Hills High School. Bert worked as a nurses' aide at Ellis Hospital and at Saratoga Hospital from where she retired after 30 years of service. She continued to be a care giver for many years after retiring. She enjoyed dancing, bowling, playing cards, Rummikub and dominoes. Bert was a summer resident of Lake Sunnyside in Queensbury, NY for 50 years. She also enjoyed 20 years as a snowbird residing in Port St. Lucie, Florida. For the past three years she has lived at Kirby Village apartments in Saratoga Springs. In addition to her parents, Bert was predeceased by her loving husband of 35 years, Richard Smith Jr.; her brother and sister-in-law Elmer and Mary Hatlee; her niece Dolores (Guy) DiCerbo and her nephew Joe (Elaine) Hatlee. Survivors include her daughter Maureen Smith; granddaughters Jessica (Adam) Santiago and Jamie Gandron; great-grandchildren Aiden and Riley Santiago; niece Kathy (John) Lynch; nephew Bill (Mary Gene) Smith and other great nieces, nephews and many friends. Bert also very much loved her Hospice team. Her family would like to give a very special thank you to Mary Cook, Karen Murdick, Karen Buczbowski, Laurie McDermot and Merleann Brust for the loving care you gave her. She considered each of you family. Her last few days were spent at Gateway House of Peace. The family would also like to thank her many volunteers and caregivers at Gateway for making her final days as comfortable as possible. Funeral services will be held at the Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Ave, Friday, September 9, 2016 at 5 p.m., followed by a gathering of friends and family to celebrate Bert's life. Burial will be in the family plot at St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Ave. at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. Those wishing to proceed to the cemetery from the William J. Burke and Sons Funeral Home, 628 North Broadway, please arrive at 9:30 a.m. It was Bert's wish to have a single yellow rose so, in lieu of flowers a memorial contribution may be made to Community Hospice, 179 Lawrence, Street Saratoga Springs NY 12866, or Gateway House of Peace, 479 Rowland Street, Ballston Spa NY 12020. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.