Obituary of Barbara Jane Hess

Barbara Jane Hess, born Eldredge, of East Glenville, NY passed into eternal rest on January 7, 2020 at Eden Park/Rosewood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rensselaer, NY. She was 98 years old, born December 30, 1921, to Andrew and Beatrice (Woodell) Eldredge, at home in Sharon Springs, NY. Barbara grew up on her father’s dairy farm in Sharon Springs, graduating from Sharon Springs High School in 1939. She attended Cornell University where she graduated with a degree in Home Economics. Always having a love of children, Barbara started her career in child care. Wanting to leave farm life in Sharon Springs, Barbara moved to California where she met her husband, Donald J. Hess, while she was working as a nursery school teacher. Following her marriage in 1946, Barbara and Don relocated to her home town of Sharon Springs, NY where they started their family and briefly owned and operated a dry cleaning business. After the birth of their first two children they relocated to Schenectady, NY and then purchased a house on Marjon Drive in East Glenville, NY where they spent the majority of their lives. Barbara became a full time homemaker, eventually raising four sons and a daughter. Throughout the 60’s and 70’s, Barbara was also a foster parent for Schenectady County, specializing in newborns awaiting adoption, and through the 1990’s was also a private child care provider. To Barbara, nothing was more important or rewarding as raising physically and emotionally healthy children. Known for her ability to provide discipline in a nurturing environment, Barbara transformed her home into a learning center for young children. Barbara also enjoyed knitting and over the years knitted hundreds of sweaters and infant layettes. She loved all things purple, and would often wear the color in her dress or jewelry. She also enjoyed playing bridge and travelling in the family’s RV throughout the United States. Surviving are her husband of 73 years, Don; and their children: Robert Hess (Denise) of Valatie NY; Thomas Hess (Patricia) of Valatie, NY; Donald Hess (Karen) of Beverly Hills, Fl.; William Hess (Melody) of Valatie; and Valerie Hess of Scotia, NY. Also surviving are grandchildren Joshua Hess (Nicole) of Schenectady, NY; Derek Hess (Meghan) of Des Moines, Iowa; Amanda Hess Knamm (Ty) of Rome, NY; Katherine Hess Toma (Greg) of Rotterdam NY; Daniel Hess (Ember) of St. Regis Falls, NY; Christopher Hess (Jeanine) of Scotia, NY; Melissa Hess of Rensselaer, NY; Nicole Cooper (Jeff) of Scotia, NY; William Hess of Valatie, NY; and David Hess of Scotia, NY. Barbara is also survived by 10 great grandchildren: Emma, Sophia, Wyatt, Madeline, Harper, Sutter, Nathaniel, Nova, Orion, and Skylar. Calling hours at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Road, Glenville, NY will be held from 12 to 2 PM on Sunday, January 12th, followed by a short service at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, Barbara asked that donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or the Autism Society. Funeral service will be private and follow at a later date with burial at Slate Hill Cemetery in Sharon Springs, NY. Online condolences may be made at glenvillefuneralhome.com