Obituary of Martha M. Keller

Latham - Martha (Mardy) M. Keller, 83, died Sunday, December 18, 2011 at the Guilderland Center Nursing Home in Guilderland Center. Born August 28,1928, she was the youngest child of the late Emily Frances McNamara Hofmann and August Otto Hofmann of West Albany. Mardy was the only one of the couple's children to be born in a hospital. A graduate of Albany High School, she worked for the North Colonie School District for 27 years. She started in September, 1963 as a cook manager. From July, 1968 until retirement in August, 1990, she was the District School Lunch Director. She married Joseph N. Keller, Sr. in St. Francis Church in West Albany on January 29, 1948. After her retirement she fulfilled one of the items on her bucket list by purchasing a Lowery Organ. She took lessons on Wednesdays at 11:45 with a great group of people at Keys-to-Fun taught by Scott Watson. She enjoyed being with these new friends immensely, always sharing antidotes from her lessons and parties with her family. Most of her favorite things to play represented her Irish ancestry. She loved gardening and took great pride in her yard as well as her African Violets inside. She definitely had a green thumb and she left many a memory of her riding her huge lawn tractor. She and her husband Joseph built a summer home on Sacandaga Reservoir/Lake with lots of blood, sweat and tears and help from family and friends where they made so many new friends and lots of funny and cherished memories for all. Martha was predeceased by her husband Joseph; and her siblings, Catherine V. Hofmann Somers (and husband John), Margaret Hofmann, Alice E. Hofmann Mahoney (and husband Neil), John A. Hofmann, Anne H. Hofmann Keller (and husband Anthony); and sister-in-law, Nancy Lennon. Survivors include her children, Sharon F. Doyle Adamoyurka (Robert J.) of Clinton, MD and Joseph N. Keller, Jr. of Feura Bush; grandchildren, John Joseph Doyle (Andrea Coughlin), Susan Emily Colvin (Michael) and Mark Matthew Doyle, all of Maryland, Sarah Lynn Adamoyurka of Pennsylvania, Emily June Keller and Joseph N. Keller, III of AZ; great-grandchildren, Hannah Helen Adamoyurka, Benjamin Alexander Donnelly, Brian Kenneth Doyle, Ciaran Coughlan Doyle, Laura Elizabeth Colvin, Kathryn Emily Colvin, Gavin Robert Donnelly, Erik Christian Doyle and Meghan Michele Colvin; her brother, Robert M. Hofmann; her sister-in-law, Ruth Weaver Hofmann; her goddaughter, Gail Hofmann Kotecki; her godson, Patrick Walter and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and great-great-great nieces and nephews. Funeral 8:00 o'clock Thursday morning from the Reilly & Son Funeral Home, Colonie and at 9:00 o'clock at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet-Shaker Rd., Latham. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Colonie. Calling hours will be Wednesday from 3 - 8 p.m. in the funeral home.