Obituary of Rosemary A. Duers

LAKE GEORGE: Rosemary A. Duers, age 72, passed away on April 8 2024 following a short illness at Albany Medical Center. Ro’s life was a reflection of her favorite book, The Giving Tree; she gave so generously throughout her life and never expected anything in return. Her only sadness was that she didn’t have more to give. Her imitation of Christ could be witnessed in every action she took, and she will be sorely missed.

Rosemary was born on October 8^th, 1951 in Mineola, N.Y. at Nassau (Winthrop) Hospital. Ro was the second child of 10 siblings and oldest daughter of the late Frank and Grace (Rutan) Jahn. She was always helping her mother run the house and care for her younger siblings. The love and humor that emanated from Ro reflects the life she was immersed in, and the skills she demonstrated in the service of others show how special she was.

Rosemary graduated from Mineola High School in 1969 and worked briefly at New York Telephone before moving to Lake George in 1971 to be the winter caretaker at a hotel for the offseason. She met her husband, Gerald, a local police officer for the Lake George Police Department and they married in 1974. Through all of their ups and downs, Jerry always loved her and she remained a devoted wife and mother of their children, until his passing in 1995. Throughout their marriage, Ro was a wonderful mother, becoming the ballast for the family as she completed home repairs and home improvements, sewed clothing from patterns and fabric, grew vegetables, devised Halloween costumes and created elaborate haunted hay rides, all while maintaining her infectious sense of humor and ebullience. She was a Communicant at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and would stop by Sileen’s to treat her kids to Tootsie Pops after Mass on Sundays as they walked home.

Ro graduated from Adirondack Community College (SUNY Adirondack) in 1984 with a nursing degree. Her first assignment was at Glens Falls Hospital, but she moved on to Westmount Health Facility, where she began as a bedside nurse but worked her way to Director of Nurses. Her staff loved her, for she was both kind and fair, and always kept the patient’s needs in mind. She reveled in being able to walk through the home and lovingly greet and converse with the patients she cared so much for until her retirement in 2009. Again, the love that effused from her was a light for those that were blessed with the opportunity to know her.

Upon retirement, Rosemary cared for her grandchildren full-time, attending sporting events across the state and helping her children in any way she could. Throughout her life, you could hear Ro’s music playing softly in the background, creating a beautiful soundtrack for her family, songs that she thought deeply about and would often illicit an emotion from her while she listened. If you took the time, she would describe a vivid memory as a particular song came on, and her face glowed describing the setting, quite often the ocean on Long Island or camping with her family. She was truly a special person.

Rosemary was predeceased by her husband, Gerald Duers, her parents, Frank and Grace Jahn, and her brother Robert (Kris) Jahn.

She is survived by her children, Jeremy (Amanda) Duers, Tara (Chad) York and Adam (Alex) Duers; her grandchildren Logan (Brittany)Duers, Cameron Duers, Jocelynn Duers, Olivia Duers, Emily Duers, Grace York, Ethan York, Landon Duers, Amelia Duers and Archibald Duers; She is also survived by brothers Tim (Donna), Skip (Karen), Chris (Eileen), Tom, Pete and Rich (Pam), and, sisters Maryalice Leno (Marc) and Marjorie Buttgereit (Mike) and 22 nieces and nephews.

The family suggests that memorial donations be made to St. Jude’s Research Hospital.

Friends and family may call from 1 to 4 PM on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at Alexander Funeral Home, 3809 Main St., Warrensburg.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, May 6, 2024 at 11 A.M. held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 50 Mohican Street, Lake George with the Fr. Joseph Busch officiating.

Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Birch Ave., Lake George.

Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online condolences, guest book and directions.