Eugenia V. Rutherford

Eugenia (Jeanne) Ogonowski Rutherford, 98, of Menands, New York passed away peacefully on August 10, 2018 in her home of 60 years surrounded by her loving family.

Jeanne, the daughter of the late Eugenia Ananieva and the late Thaddeus S. Ogonowski, Sr., was born in Schenectady, NY on July 15, 1920.  She was the devoted wife of Alexander Rutherford who passed at the age of 58 on March 31, 1977, and the adoring sister to her late brother Thaddeus S. Ogonowski Jr. of Schenectady, NY and her late sister Olga Rosenfield of Westport, CT. 

Jeanne was the affectionate mother of the late Michael Rutherford and of her surviving son Alexander Rutherford (Ann) of Brentwood, NH, daughter Monica Tofield (Stephen) of Union, ME, daughter Eugenia Rutherford of Latham, NY, son Thaddeus Rutherford (Kathy) of Niskayuna, NY and son William Rutherford (Michele) of Smithville, TX.   Grandma Jeanne is lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Eugenia Massey (Derek), Elizabeth Duncan (Jarrett), Eve Pratarelli (Nicholas), Hayley and Lea Rutherford, Emilia and Francesca Pittelli, Stephen Rutherford, Liam and Emily Rutherford and her great grandchildren Jackson and Juliet Massey and Hunter and Charlotte Duncan.

Jeanne was educated at Mount Pleasant High School, SUNY Albany and Russell Sage College.  She was a graduate of Russell Sage’s first class of physical education teachers and attended her 75th reunion last year.  Following graduation, Jeanne taught in Frankfort, Troy and Watervliet public schools.  She gave years of dedication and love to the Menands Public Library, Menands Public Schools, various Menands political committees, the Al-Anon organization, her dream group and her neighborhood book club.

Jeanne lived her life believing every day was a gift.  She saw the world as a place of greatness, respected mother-nature for her power and beauty, and viewed kindness and civility as the keys to success.  She valued education and craved never-ending knowledge, seeking solace in books and the Sunday morning newspapers surrounded by those who found peace in her presence.  Her trust in God created a spiritual existence through which she offered wisdom and comfort to all of the lives she touched.  To Jeanne, wealth was never measured by what your pocket held, but instead the love you held in your heart for yourself and all of God’s creatures.  Her unconditional love for her family and friends will live within each of us and she will be forever missed.

The funeral service for Jeanne will be held at the Trinity Church located at 1336 1st Avenue, Watervliet, NY on September 1, 2018 at 11AM.  Visiting hours will be held from 8AM to 11AM at Trinity Church on September 1st prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made by check to the Menands Public Library, 4 North Lyons Avenue, Menands, NY 12204.  The family of Eugenia Rutherford wishes to thank Community Hospice of Albany County for their compassion and comfort during Jeanne’s final days.  The Rutherford family is eternally grateful to the loving following of friends and extended family for their decades of adoration, life, joy and humor