Obituary of Beatrice Ratcliffe

Beatrice(Bea)Mae Ratcliffe,86,of Rotterdam,NY passed away suddenly Sunday, December 17, 2017 at Florida Hospital in Orlando.Beatrice was born to the late William and Gladys(Mills)Hawley on August 17, 1931 in Walton, NY.She married her beloved husband William F. Ratcliffe in 1953. They shared a wonderful 43 years together. They lived and raised their family in East Greenbush, NY and later relocated to Malta, NY where they enjoyed their home on Saratoga Lake.Beatrice was a homemaker most of her life. After graduating from high school she went to Albany Business College. In her early 20's she worked as a typist at Main Care, and then after her children were grown she worked briefly in the cafeteria kitchen at Columbia High School as well as a cleaner in the State Quad dining room at SUNY Albany. She was an avid gardener who enjoyed working in her flower and vegetable gardens. She treasured spending time with her family at the lake and 'down home'. She also loved taking leisurely strolls, dancing, sharing a cup of tea, sipping her afternoon libation, listening to music, painting, reading, and singing. She was passionate about her faith and spent much of her time volunteering at her church where she especially enjoyed participating in the Welcome and Nurture Committee. She most recently was a professing member of the Rotterdam United Methodist Church. Earlier in her life she spent many years singing in the choir at the Community Congregational Church of Clinton Heights in Rensselaer, NY as well as worshiping at the First United Methodist Church in East Greenbush and the Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church. Beatrice was predeceased by her Husband, William F. Ratcliffe, her Daughter Cynthia (Floyd) Hood, her two Grandchildren Wayne Rosser, and Melissa Ratcliffe, and her Brother-in-Laws Fred Fortier and Maurice Neale.Beatrice is survived by her one Daughter Bonnie Rosser and two Sons Lawrence (Colleen)Ratcliffe, and Steven (Lynn) Ratcliffe, her three Grandchildren Chelsea(Anderson)Mathieu, Rachel (John Callagan) Ratcliffe, Floyd W. (Karen) Hood, and her three Sisters Barbara ('Buddy Willsey) Fortier, Wanda Neale, and Nora (Bryan) Fitch.She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews, cousins and dear friends especially Tony Spadacenta all of whom she deeply cherished. All are welcome to call at the Wm. J. Rockefeller Funeral Home located at 165 Columbia Tpk, Rensselaer, NY on Friday, December 29th from 4:00-7:00pm. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral which will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 30th at the Rotterdam United Methodist Church located at 1915 Helderberg Ave, Schenectady, NY. Interment will follow the service at the New Rural Cemetery, East Greenbush, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations be made to the American Heart Association or any charitable organization of your choosing.