Obituary of Elaine B. Finke

Elaine Barbara Finke, 75, passed quietly and peacefully into eternal life on Sunday March 4 surrounded by her loving family, including her husband of 52 years, "her Jim", James Joseph Finke. Elaine was born in Albany, New York on March 12, 1942, the daughter of Ralph Whitbeck and Elizabeth Schraver. She was a 1959 graduate of Albany High School and attended the Albany Comptometer School, becoming a comptometer operator at the A&P distribution warehouse. Following her marriage, in 1965, she was a housewife and mother until starting a second career as a school bus driver for Questar retiring in 2002 after 25 years of service Elaine's dedication to her family had no bounds. She was an active volunteer for various community organizations and the numerous activities her family participated in. She was a constant presence at the East Greenbush Girls Softball Field, running the concession stand for over a decade. Elaine also enjoyed a passion for music. She sang in her church choirs at both Bethany Reformed Church and later Greenbush Reformed Church. Even as her memory issues developed, music continued to provide a soothing respite for Elaine, and she consistently sang the words to many of her favorite hymns and Statler Brothers' melodies. In addition to her devoted husband, Elaine is survived by her four children, James Finke of Delmar, Barbara (Jeffrey) Sauter of Glenville, Linda Finke of Albany and Judith Vitali of East Greenbush, as well as her loving sister Joan (Robert) Hollner of Albany and several cousins, nieces and nephews. She particularly cherished her grandchildren Evan Finke, Karl Sauter, Glen Sauter II, Joseph Vitali and step-grand daughters, Taylor and Casey Capuano. Predeceased by her parents, aunts, uncles, several cousins and her best friend and fellow bus driver, Barbara Becker, with whom she worked on many bake sales, dinners and other church activities. The family particularly is grateful to the staff and aides at the Memory Center at Hawthorne Ridge and the Loving Home for Mom and Dad in Rexford for the care, compassion and comfort they provided for Elaine. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral service at 11am, Monday March 12 at Greenbush Reformed Church, 688 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush. Interment will be in the East Greenbush Cemetery. Friends may call at the Rockefeller Funeral Home, 165 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer on Sunday from 4-7pm. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the Shriners Hospital 516 Carew St, Springfield, MA 01104 or the Memorial Fund of Greenbush Reformed Church, PO Box 460, East Greenbush, NY 12061.