Obituary of Marion Elizabeth Klapp

New Scotland - Marion E. "Skippy" Weiss Klapp, 87, passed away Thursday, October 24, 2013 at her home in New Salem, surrounded by family members. Born July 7, 1926 in Albany to parents P. Henry Weiss and Ella Viola Clother Weiss, she lived at 269 Sand Creek Road in West Albany with her parents and four siblings until she married Robert, the handsome GI who stole her heart, on March 28, 1948. She and Robbie were married for 63 years when he passed away on November 4, 2011. Marion graduated from Albany High School in 1944 and was first employed by GE during the war years in war related efforts. After raising four children as a busy farm wife, at age 32 she informed her husband that she was going to get her driver's license so she could go to work. She then began a 17 year career with New York State, working in several departments during that time. She retired early to care for her aging mother. An exceptionally talented woman, Marion was able to balance her responsibilities as a farm wife, busy mother and active participant in church and community related activities. She excelled in music, sewing, needlework, cooking, baking and so much more. She shared these talents in many ways...from making clothes for herself and the children, knitting baby blankets and christmas stockings, making baked goods and pies and working the baked goods booth at the Punkintown Fair, and assisting with making banners that still hang in the hall at the First Lutheran Church in Albany after 50 years. Marion's faith was a living and important part of her life. A longtime member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Albany, she was a Sunday School teacher and organist at St. John's Chapel on Sand Creek Rd., a youth group advisor at First Lutheran Church in Albany, attended services at St. Paul's in Berne and rejoined St. John's in the last years of her life. A warm and loving person, Marion was devoted to her family, attending virtually every school assembly, play, concert, sporting event, graduation or other important event. She remembered each person with a card on their birthday, including children, spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well. She was an extreme Voorheesville sports fan, going to great lengths to support children and grandchildren in their various sports, even going to Norway with Robbie to watch her grandson play basketball. She was an avid league bowler for many years with her husband Robbie. She was a member of the BPW and worked polls during elections for many years. She and Robbie went on many bus trips over the years with the Town of New Scotland Senior Citizens, travelling as far away as Nova Scotia and Michigan. Marion was predeceased by her husband, Robbie; her parents; and her brother, Robert. Survivors include her children, Barbara Ellen Vartanian, Marion Elizabeth Dunk (Howard), George Edward Klapp (Judy) and Robin Edith Burch (David); grandchildren, David Burch (Jodi), Matthew Weir (Katie), Daniel Burch, Jessica Weir, Melissa Savage (Clay), Andrea Vamvas (Nick), Helen Lavoie (Chris), R. Nicholas Klapp and Lila Dunk; great-grandchildren, Alexander Burch, Gabriel Weir, Nellie Burch, Miles Lavoie and Makayla Savage; and her siblings, Millicent Van Zetten, Russell Weiss and William Weiss. Funeral 9:00 a.m. Monday, Oct 28, 2013 from the Reilly & Son Funeral Home, Voorheesville and at 10:00 o'clock at St. John's Lutheran Church, 160 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12206. Burial will be in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Colonie. Calling hours will be Sunday from 2 - 6 p.m. in the funeral home. For those who wish, memorial contributions to St. John's Lutheran Church or Community Hospice of Albany, 445 New Karner Rd., Albany, NY 12205 would be appreciated.