Obituary of Gene Alkevicius Petrus

Our dear mother, Gene Alkevicius Petrus, 91, passed away Monday January 9, 2017 at St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam with her loving daughter Daiva Wells at her side. The only child of Jurgis and Maria Chernov Alkevicius was born July 8, 1925 & raised in Vilkaviskis, Lithuania. She married the love of her life in 1947, Mecys Petrus and during the war they migrated to Ansback, Germany and finally were sponsored and arrived in Amsterdam where they raised their family. Unfortunately mom lost our dad on Dec. 8, 1988 was he was forever missed and loved! Gene was a full time loving mother and found time to be employed as secretary for Father Robert K. Baltch at the former St. Casimir's Church in Amsterdam. She was also a communicant at St. Casimir's and later St. Mary's Church. Her Christian faith was strong and she was an active member of the American Lithuanian Club, the St. Casimir's Ladies Auxiliary and supported many foster & homeless children. Gene Petrus was very active with her wellness activities & diet. She enjoyed walking, exercising and eating well. Her smile and laughter lit up a room and she will truly be missed by all who had the privilege to be in her company. Survivors are her three loving daughters, Sylvia (John) Freiman of Amsterdam, Vida (Robert) Zappalorti of Hamden,Ct, and Daiva (Casper) Wells of Schenectady. Ten cherished grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. Gene's family would like to thank Dr. Robert Droege and Dr. Ingrid Rund for their warmth, their kindness and for their special care of their beloved mom. Also, the family would like to thank mom's caregivers Lonna, Eileen, Patty, Sharon and Kristy for their loving care of Gene. She always looked forward to seeing them and they enabled her to stay in her own home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday January 13, 2017 at 1:00Pm at St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church, 50 Cornell St., Amsterdam with Father O. Robert DeMartinis as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Casimir's Cemetery in Amsterdam. The family will receive relatives and friends from 12:00PM to 1:00PM, Friday January 13, 2017 at St. Stanislaus Church, 50 Cornell St., Amsterdam prior to the Mass. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities,1 Kimball St., Amsterdam, NY 12010.