Obituary of Elizabeth M. McHale

ELIZABETH M. McHALE Latham- Elizabeth M. "Betty" McHale of Latham, entered peacefully into eternal life on Monday August 17, 2020 at Albany Medical Center. Born on April 23rd, 1919, in Watervliet, Betty was the daughter of the late James A. Burns, Jr. and Lena (Connors) Rieless. She had been pre-deceased by her loving husband, William E. McHale, whom she married in 1944. They spent 56 cherished years of marriage together until his passing on February 13, 2000. Betty and Bill loved to travel and visited Hawaii, Spain, Ireland, California and Las Vegas. They spent over 25 winters in New Smyrna Beach, FL, and many summer vacations in York Beach, ME, starting an ongoing 65-year family tradition. Betty grew up in Watervliet, graduated from Watervliet High School in 1937 and then lived in Latham for over 60 years. She was very independent and proud of the fact that she lived on her own and still drove her own car until the age of 101. She loved going out to lunch with her friends, reading and spending time with her very large family. Betty was an employee in the Tape Department at the Behr-Manning/Norton Company in Watervliet. She worked there for twenty-two years before retiring in 1973. Betty was a "Charter Member" of the Norton Retirees and enjoyed playing bocce with them at the Italian Community Center in Troy, NY. Betty was a member of the Watervliet Seniors, Watervliet Historical Society and Colonie Elks. Betty enjoyed many years of swimming and exercising at the Cohoes Community Center where she made many great friends. Betty also loved to oil paint and studied many years with Russ McMahon. Survivors include her brother Eugene (Gloria) P. Burns of Troy. She was the sister of the late James Burns, John (Bea) Burns and William (Anna Mae) Burns and sister-in-law of the late Mary Matthews. Betty is also survived by her dear friend Margaret Williams, many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews and great grand-nieces and great grand-nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial for Elizabeth will be celebrated by Reverend Geoffrey Burke at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham, on Thursday August 20th, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the church on Thursday from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Please only enter the church from the main entrance doorway where the carport is; masks and social distancing are required; and 50 visitors maximum at a time will be allowed in the church. Interment will be next to her beloved William at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Watervliet. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Elizabeth's name can be made to Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110. For directions, information, to light a memory candle or order flowers for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com.