Norma Saddlemire

Norma Jane Saddlemire passed away on July 9, 2015 after a brief stay at Capstone Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Amsterdam, NY. Norma was born on September 17, 1930 in Esperance, NY to the parents of the late Vernon and Blanche (Zeh) Putnam, formerly of Esperance, NY. Norma was educated in the Esperance School house and at Schoharie Central School. She also received beautician's training from the former Royal Beauty Academy in Schenectady. After growing up in Esperance, Norma lived on Barton Hill Road in the Town of Wright where she worked and managed the family farm. She moved to the Village of Schoharie in 1982 and worked in the transportation department of Schoharie Central Schools and transported special needs children to their schools outside of the Schoharie school district. A victim of two floods and a tornado while residing in Schoharie she returned to live on Barton Hill Road in 1996. She retired in 1997 from the Schoharie Central School District. For the last 15 years she has resided on Long Road in East Berne, NY Norma was a former member of the Schoharie United Presbyterian Church, where she served as Deacon, and the Wiawaka Women's Group. Later she was a member of the Gallupville Evangelical Lutheran Church. While living in Schoharie, Norma's life was also that of a caregiver from caring of her elderly parents, other relatives, and friends. She loved country music and cooking. Her cooking ranged from making cut-up animal shaped cakes for all the children, to large church spaghetti dinners, to canning and freezing vegetables from her garden. She enjoyed traveling, whether chaperoning the church hand bell youth choir to Ohio, spending time in Florida, traveling cross country with friends, or her first airplane ride to China. An excellent seamstress, she sewed her own wedding gown and all her attendants' dresses, as well as all her daughter's gowns and their attendants. She also sewed many quilts, crocheted baptismal dresses and knitted many baby blankets and sweaters. Norma loved life on the farm where she found peace surrounded by animals, many flower and vegetable gardens, hard work, and family, beginning on her farm on Barton Hill Road, Schoharie, and most recently on the Crawford farm in East Berne. Norma is survived by her children, Linda (Daniel) Mencucci, Frank (Rosanne) Faber, Patricia (John) Haroldson, Cindy Slack (Michael Stever), Rosalie Faber (Peter Centore), and her companion Kenneth Crawford and his family. She is survived by six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and one great great granddaughter. Also survived by her brother Roger V. Putnam of Sun City, AZ., along with many cousins, two nieces, a nephew, and many friends. Norma was predeceased by her parents, also her sister, Thelma Salsbury, and her great granddaughter, Olivia Lane Marbot. The family would like to thank the staff of Capstone Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, and the Montgomery County Hospice for their compassionate unending care and support. A memorial celebration of life service will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at 6:00 pm, with the Rev. Brandan Eddy of the Schoharie United Presbyterian Church officiating. A period of visitation will be from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at The Fredendall Funeral Home, 199 Main Street, Altamont, NY. Norma's memory may be honored with memorial donations to: The Community Hospice of Amsterdam, 246 Manny's Corners Road , Amsterdam, NY 12010 Helderberg Ambulance, 978 Cole Hill Road, East Berne, NY 12059 Senior Services of Albany, PO Box 13512, Albany, NY 12212