Obituary of Rachel A. DiGennaro

Rachel A. DiGennaro, 98, of Amsterdam, passed away peacefully Monday at the River Ridge Living Center after a brief illness. Born in Amsterdam on April 23, 1912, the daughter of the late Nicola and Carmella Bursese DiGennaro she graduated from Amsterdam High School. In 1933, she graduated from the Oneonta State Teacher's College and later attended Syracuse University attaining a Bachelor Of Education and a Master Of Science Degrees, with certification for elementary level principal. She then began her long career in local education, teaching at Arnold Avenue School, later becoming principal and at the Raphael J. McNulty School, retiring as principal in 1969. As a much loved educator, she still could recall many of the students whom she taught through the years and the memories which she truly cherished. She was a member of the New York State Teacher's Asso., and the Amsterdam Retired Teachers, past president of the Amsterdam Business And Professional Women's Club where she was selected as Woman Of The Year, the Century Club, the Alpha Kappa of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, AARP, and St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary where she was a volunteer for a number of years. Gifted with a lovely voice, she sang in the Mohawk Valley Carpet Mills Chorus and in the choir of St. Michael The Archangel Church, where she was a lector and Eucharistic minister. She also started a singing program at area nursing homes to help lift the spirits of the residents. Miss DiGennaro was honored by the McNulty School with a tree planted in her honor as it's first principal. Following her retirement, she volunteered as a tutor for the Literacy Program at the Amsterdam Library. Rachel was also a member of the Secular Third Order Of St. Francis. She leaves her dear sister, Catherine Savignano of Schenectady, as well as her nephew David and wife Debbie Savignano, grandnieces Nickey, and Lisa, grandnephew Anthony; several great grandnieces and nephews, many dear cousins and Godchildren including Helen Rowan and Betty Ann DiCaprio. She was predeceased by a sister Louise Dominick. The Mass Of Christian Burial will be con-celebrated Friday at 11:15 am at her parish, Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel, Amsterdam. Fr. Lawrence J. Decker and Fr. Pascal A. Iannotti presiding. Interment is in the family plot in St. Michael's Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited and may call Thursday evening from 4-7 pm at Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue. Contributions may be made in her name to Mount Carmel Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home office.