Obituary of Birdella Frances Owens

It is with great sadness that the family of BirdelIa " Birdie" Frances (Williams-Deveans) Owens,

announce her passing on Monday, July 23, 2018, at the age of 78 years young.

Born on September 2, 1939, in Piseco, NY, she was the daughter of the late Jennie Spencer and Clarence Williams. While growing up in Piseco, she helped at her family owned general store as well as assisting her mother at the local post office. She often shared many memories and stories of her time in Piseco with her family, most were “Funnier than a frog's ass!” a statement which was a favorite of hers.

In 1963 she had the honor of graduating from Mercy School of Nursing in Watertown, NY as a

Registered Nurse. During her the course of her 40-year career, she worked at many institutions and mentored many young nurses, some of whom are still practicing today. She was known to be passionate and dedicated about the nursing profession and demonstrated compassion to all those she cared for.

Birdella was known to show the same compassion to friends, family, and animals. Her arms were always open, demonstrating her love and compassion as well as instilling that same love into anyone she met. The family joke was that she took in kids, cats, and dogs alike while lovingly referring to them as her "strays". Birdella was truly one of a kind and will be greatly missed. She enjoyed crocheting. Many family and friends will cherish her beautiful afghans for many years to come.

Loved ones that will miss Birdella until they meet again are her brother Clarence (Karen) Williams; her sister Emily (James) Anderson; her son Randall Williams and Michael (Patricia) Deveans; her daughters, Anna (Joseph) Lucas, Candice Norrs; Georgia (Harry) Deveans-Smith, Jody (Frederick) Robenski, Maryann Deveans, and Karen (Timothy) Goppert, as well as her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren. Loved ones who cleared the path to Heaven for Birdella are her parents, Clarence and Jennie Williams; her bother Timothy Williams; her first husband Ernest Deveans; and her daughter Kathy Ann Marotta. Birdella did not believe in titles such as “Step” or “Half” when it came to her children. She will also be missed by family and friends as she was an exceptional woman, who mothered many and turned away none.

Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life on Friday, July 27th, 2018 from 4-7pm at Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, 51 Fremont St. Gloversville, NY 12078. Birdella will be interred at Higgins Bay Cemetery, 147 Higgins Bay Rd., Piseco, NY 12139, at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial contribution may be made in Birdella’s honor to Mohawk Valley Health System’s Caner Center; Stomp Out Cancer Campaign. Donations may be made online at mvhealthsystem.org/stomp-out-cancer or mailed to: Stomp Out Cancer, c/o MVHS Cancer Center, 1676 Sunset Avenue, Utica, NY 13502. Those wishing to express their condolences to the family may do so by signing our online memorial at www.brbsfuneral.com.