Obituary of Marie V. Bilney

Marie V. Bilney, 78, of Painted Post, NY passed peacefully at her home on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 after a courageous and long ordeal with lung cancer and C.O.P.D. During her final days she was quite restful and found solace and contentment with those who gathered around her to bring comfort. Thanks to all who helped at this difficult time and in so many ways. Marie was born on August 13, 1934 in Holy Name Hospital, Teaneck, NJ to Howard W. and Marie (nee Vagell) Collins of Hillsdale, NJ. She attended grammar school and 9th and 10th grades in the Third Avenue School in Westwood, NJ; graduated eighth grade from George G. White School in Hillsdale, NJ and graduated from Park Ridge High School in 1952 before attending Donovan Business School in Hackensack, NJ. Education was followed by a rewarding life from wife, mother and a variety of employment opportunities, the last before retirement was the buyer and retail manager at McAfee Ski and Sport Shop, Inc., which was owned by her former husband, Richard E. Bilney. Most of her life she resided in Sussex County having moved to Vernon in 1958 from Upper Saddle River, NJ. She spent brief interludes in West Charleston and Summerville, SC, Hawaii and Florida. Younger days found her involved with teaching Sunday School, being an advisor for Young Peoples Fellowship, Brownies, Girl Scouts and more. In more recent years she was a member of Sussex County Bird Club, Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee, Delaware Valley Raptor Center, Friends of Wallkill River Wildlife Refuge and Friends of High Point State Park for which she was the past treasurer and also received a Volunteer of the Year Award in 1999. She will be remembered by family and friends for her enthusiasm for life, sharp wit and sense of humor, curiosity of everything, determination to achieve perfection, tent camping, reading, cooking, gardening (at a younger age), playing cards and all other games, traveling, designing and creating her own greeting cards (several of which have been published in various magazines) and arranging class reunions for her fellow high school graduates from 1985 through 2010. A major achievement in her life was co-writing with friend, Christina Clark of Hamburg, NJ, a history book about Cragsmoor, NY entitled "Bits and Pieces of Cragsmoor". Cragsmoor is a tiny, but fairly well known hamlet in Ulster County, NY between Pine Bush and Ellenville. The book was first printed in 2006 and published in 2010 by Author House. Mrs. Bilney was predeceased by her parents and aunts and uncles. She is survived by three much loved and caring daughters, Bonnie (Walker) and husband Wayne Courtright of Woodhull, NY, Amy (Walker) Santo of Hughsville, PA and Jennifer (Walker) and husband Kenneth Adams of Canandaigua, NY. Also surviving are a sister, Valerie (Collins) and husband Charles "Lou" Daly of Warwick, NY and a brother, Howard W. Collins and his wife Judith of Ocean, NJ. Marie is also survived by her first husband and father of her children, Anthony Wayne Walker of Hadley, NY. She leaves ten endeared grandchildren including Amanda Courtright and her forever friend Sam Luckner of Corning, NY, Benjamin Courtright and wife Christy of Waldorf, MD, Lauren, Vaughn and Emily Santo of Hughsville, PA, Jamie (Adams) and husband Dr. Gary Simmons of Midlothian, VA, Julian (Adams) and husband Robert Smith of Locust Grove, VA, Kenneth Adams and wife Megan of Virginia and Kraig and Kurtis Adams of Canandaigua, NY. In addition to her grandchildren, she also leaves 7 great grandchildren, five girls and two boys. Plus 3 nieces, 2 nephews, 3 great nephews, 1 great niece and friends too numerous to name. Bilney step children include Richard M. Bilney and wife Patricia of Newton, NJ and their children Shana and Richard P.; Robert Bilney of Franklin, NJ, Susan (Bilney) Fiske and her husband Leah of Colorado; Mary (Bilney) and her husband David Soifer of N.C. and their son Mark; Elizabeth (Bilney) and husband Barry Douglas and two children, Sarah and Justin of Newton, NJ. Then add three grandchildren to the Bilney lineage. Final arrangements were made by H.P. Smith & Son Funeral Home in Woodhull, NY. There are no services planned in New York State. It was Marie's wish that family and her many friends join together for a luncheon in her honor at the Lafayette House (Lafayette Village). And so on Friday, Aug. 16, 2013 from 12 to 3 PM a remembrance and tribute to her will be held. It will be a time to grieve, share memories, see old friends, to heal, to celebrate her life......... and to remember. Please bring your memories and/or stories of Marie's life to share. Please direct condolences to daughter Bonnie Courtright at 4421 Olmstead Road, Woodhull, NY 14898. Please no on line condolences. Since Marie can no longer smell the flowers which she loved, she asked in lieu of flowers that memorial donations be made to St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-3678 of Care First (Hospice), 11751 E. Corning Road, Corning, NY 14830-3657. Service: Friday, August 16, 2013 12 to 3 PM Celebration of Life Lafayette House Lafayette, New Jersey