Obituary of Rita Mary Luibrand

     Rita Mary Luibrand, born March 1, 1934 in Albany, New York, died October 7, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. Rita was the daughter of the late William Balfe and May (Quirk) Balfe, and is survived by her husband of 61 years, Charles Luibrand, who she met when they both started working at Niagara Mohawk in the 1950s, and their five children, Kevin (Mary Grace) Luibrand, Mary (Craig Taylor) Lamb, David (Danielle) Luibrand, Peter (Arlene) Luibrand, and Judith (Donald) Malm. Rita is also survived by her mother-in-law, Freda Luibrand, 14 grandchildren, one great grandchild  nieces, nephews and cousins.

     She was pre-deceased by her brothers, William Balfe and Francis Balfe.

      Rita was a devoted and loving wife and mother, and dedicated her life to raising their children. In her 40s, Rita returned to school to earn her college degree at Maria College in Occupational Therapy. She then worked with physically challenged children through Saratoga County BOCES until her retirement. Rita never left her South end Albany Irish roots. She was devoted to her faith and her church and the poor, volunteering with the in the south end of Albany, organizing and participating in bazaars and variety shows in her home parish, and starting holiday parades in her neighborhood. She was dedicated to the Little Sisters of the Poor and a daily volunteer at the Our Lady of Hope nursing facility for 15 years until she was overcome with Alzheimer’s disease. Rita was also a talented painter, who left behind a trove of oil paintings.

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, October 11, at 10:30 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Ushers Road, Clifton Park followed by interment at Saratoga National Cemetery at 12:30 pm..

     Calling hours will be Wednesday, October 10, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home Funeral Home, 1550 Route 9, Clifton Park, New York. 

     The family is forever grateful to the many caring and dedicated staff at Schuyler Ridge in the Clifton Park Alzheimer’s unit, and her special helper Ronnie. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern NY Chapter, Pine West Plaza, Building 4, Suite 405, Washington Ave. Ext. Albany, NY 12205-5515.