Obituary of Madeline Ann Ryan Agresta

Madeline Ann Ryan Agresta, 81, of Stewart Street, Amsterdam, passed Sunday morning at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany. Born June 22, 1926 in Ballston Spa, New York, she was the daughter of Frederick and Madeline Glinsbeckel Ryan. She grew up on Malta Avenue in Ballston Spa, graduating with honors from Ballston Spa High School in 1943. After high school she enrolled in St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in Amsterdam where she began her lifelong commitment to the nursing profession. She worked at St. Mary's Hospital as a Registered Nurse for over 45 years, specializing in obstetrics, intensive care nursing and assuming increasing responsibility for providing outstanding patient care in the hospital as Night Supervisor, a position she held for over 30 years until her retirement in 1991. On May 6, 1951 she married Daniel Agresta, her life partner of more than 50 years and became a working mother in the truest sense; together they raised eight children, four sons and four daughters, two of whom became nurses. After they retired they traveled extensively, often to spend time with their children and grandchildren who have lived all over the world. She is survived by seven of her children and their spouses: Anne Christian of Norwalk CT; Susan Tatar and her husband Robert of Saratoga Springs NY; Mary of San Francisco CA; James and his wife Paula of Leonardtown MD; Peggy Castor and her husband Rex of Poway CA; Richard and his wife Deborah of Guilderland NY and Philip and his wife Julie of Las Vegas NV and also by her daughter-in-law Mary Pat Agresta of Broadalbin NY and by 17 grandchildren: Patrick and his wife Gina, Karen, Christopher, Kathleen and Carol Russo; Thomas TJ and Eric Christian; Emma and Lukas Castor and Elizabeth, Alison, Gabriella, Caland, Abby, Kristen, Matthew and Kyle Agresta and one great-granddaughter, Natalie Russo, and two brothers, Frederick Ryan of Lake Wales FL and Henry Ryan of Ballston Spa NY. She was predeceased by her husband who died on April 8, 2002, her son Daniel Agresta Jr. who died on January 25, 2001, her grandson Scott Christian who died on July 27, 2007, her sister Patricia DeCicco who died on January 10, 1996, and her son-in-law Thomas Christian who died on May 31, 2001. She leaves behind many lifelong friends and a large extended family including four beloved nephews John, Stephen, Anthony and Michael DeCicco who were particularly special to her, who lost their mother too soon. She was a congregant of St Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Amsterdam and an active member of the St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association. She was an avid member of The Ladies of Charity, lending her love of crafting to a useful purpose in giving joy to those that received the fruits of her work while raising funds for the needs of Montgomery County residents. Over the years she created many beautiful and functional items that she enjoyed giving away, including a special full-sized afghan presented to each of her grandchildren upon his/her high school graduation. She was an avid reader and a proficient exerciser of mind games and puzzles, and regularly completed the New York Times Sunday Crosswords. The Mass Of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 11:15 am at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, Grove Street, Amsterdam by Fr. Pascal A. Iannotti. The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday evening from 4 to 7 pm at the funeral home, Betz, Rossi & Bellinger, 171 Guy Park Avenue. Interment is in St. Michael?s Cemetery. Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation, 427 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam NY 12010 or to the Ladies of Charity, c/o Karen Jurcsak, 8 Jonathan Lane, Amsterdam NY 12010.