FORT EDWARD, NEW YORK – Mary Rose Drescher Bodenweiser of Queensbury, NY was received into the loving arms of her savior Jesus Christ on January 23, 2013 at the age of 88, passing out of this life old and full of years. Mary's extraordinary warmth, gentleness, generosity, intelligence, unwavering encouragement, sense of humor and love of family, friends, and life will be greatly missed.

Born in Queens Village, New York on December 8, 1924, she was the daughter of Anna Rose Knies (1901-92) and Theodore Arthur Drescher (1901- 86).

In the early 1940's Mary was employed as an executive secretary with the Hegeman-Harris architectural firm in New York City, and later with the C.P. Dawson Insurance Agency, also in New York City. In the 1950's she was secretary to the principal Sunquam Elementary School in Melville, Long Island.

On December 22, 1945 Mary married N. W. "Bill" Bodenweiser. In 1952, Mary and Bill along with their two daughters Karen and Candice, then age six and four, were all active participants in building their own home in what was in those days the wilds of Dix Hills on Long Island in New York. Sons Keith and Clifford were born in 1957 and 1958 respectively. Mary worked alongside her husband establishing Bodenweiser Builders, a small but very successful construction company, and after local involvement, became Treasurer of the PTA for New York State. She and her husband provided a wonderful home environment for their family, from going hunting out the back door of the house, to calling the children in from play in the fields and woods by ringing the bell heard a mile away, to boating on Long Island Sound and being at the beach every weekend, to weekly visits from beloved grandparents, aunt, uncle, nieces and nephew, to adventurous cross-country travel in 1953 when the only four-lane was the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

In 1973, Mary moved with her family from Long Island to Queensbury, New York, where she and Bill were proprietors of the Alpenhaus Motel for almost 30 years. In his time away from the motel, Bill established the Fire Marshall's Office of Queensbury, NY as a venerable institution designed to protect life.

During Mary's last years, she and daughter Karen would take drives into Washington County each week, enjoying especially one winter of bald eagles everywhere,

following a pheasant up a country road, seeing a fox curled up on a round hay bale on a sunny autumn afternoon, experts banding a kestrel hawk, meeting residents along the way who would wave, ice cream at the place east of the Washington County fairground, and maybe a picnic manhattan or in summer a margarita along a quiet road on the Battenkill River while listening to bird song and watching for great blue herons. They often shared how blessed they were for this time and for living in a beautiful area to explore together.
Mary was predeceased by her beloved parents, Theodore and Anna Drescher, by Bill, her husband of fifty-four years, and sadly by her grandson Nicholas, and son Keith. She is survived by her sister Jane Pobanz and her husband Al of Texas; two daughters, Karen Bodenweiser of Queensbury, and Candice Talbot and her husband David of Colorado; son Clifford Bodenweiser of Massachusetts; five grandsons, one granddaughter, two great grandsons, two great granddaughters, and two nieces.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Fort Hudson Nursing Facility for their kindness and excellent care of Mary for eight years.

In lieu of flowers, Mary requested contributions be made to Crutches 4 Africa, an organization which provides mobility devices to those in need worldwide. Founded by daughter Candice and husband David, this grass-roots non-profit is assisted by Rotary International. Donations in any amount will be gratefully accepted at www.Crutches4Africa.org.

There will be no visiting hours, and interment will be at Pine View Cemetery in Queensbury New York, at the convenience of the family. Condolences may be mailed to Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804, or e-mailed through www.bakerfuneralhome.com.