Beatrice L. Plude

HUDSON FALLS—Beatrice Louise “Bea” Plude, a longtime resident of LaBarge Street, died Wednesday, December 3, 2014, at the Fort Hudson Healthcare Facility. She was 86.  

She was born in Hudson Falls on March 31, 1928, the daughter of Wilfred and Mildred Deyette Bechard.  

On Sept. 4, 1954, Mrs. Plude married Donald J. Plude and moved into the house he built himself at 33 LaBarge Street. They lived there together for 29 years, until Mr. Plude’s death in 1983. She lived there for another 26 years before entering the nursing home—55 years in all.  

From the mid 1970s to the early ’80s, Mr. and Mrs. Plude enjoyed taking trips in their Winnebago with their family. They could often be found at campgrounds in the Adirondacks and at local parades, with friends in tow or around the campfire.  

In later years, Mrs. Plude could often be seen sitting on the front stoop of her house or in the driveway in nice weather with her son Michael, who has Down syndrome, and waving to and chatting with neighbors and passersby. For many years, Mrs. Plude took care of Michael at the family home. She had a warm and bright smile and a good sense of humor and loved a good hotdog.  

Mrs. Plude especially enjoyed scholastic wrestling. For many years after her son Jeffrey was a high school wrestler, she could be seen at area matches and tournaments in the front row cheering on the Hudson Falls Tiger grapplers. She regularly attended the Hudson Falls High School wrestling banquets and presented the annual sportsmanship award to the winner. She herself was awarded a plaque as the #1 Fan by the 1995-96 team.  

Her other sport was professional baseball. An avid Yankees fan, Mrs. Plude rarely missed a game on television in the 1980s and ’90s and attended games at the old Yankee Stadium several times. She also liked to do crossword puzzles and take bus trips with other seniors. She was a past member of the Hudson Falls/Fort Edward 60 Plus Senior Citizens and a member of St. Mary’s/St. Paul’s Church in Hudson Falls.  

Her parents, her husband, a half brother Richard Gregory, and two sisters, Doris Costanzo and Shirley Ball, all died before her.  

Survivors include her sons, Jeffrey Plude and his wife, Karen, of Glens Falls, and Michael Plude of Granville; her stepson, Ronald Plude of Plano, Texas; her stepgrandsons, Scott and Matthew Plude, both of California; her half sister, Joyce Hammond of Queensbury; her half brothers, Marvin Gregory of Glens Falls and Raymond Gregory and his wife, Linda, of Hudson Falls; her sisters-in-law, Lois Plude of Lusby, Maryland, Marlyn Bray and her husband, Dana, of Queensbury, and Roanne Messier of Virginia; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.  

Calling hours will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Carleton Funeral Home, Inc. 68 Main Street, Hudson Falls.  

Services will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, following the calling hours. Burial will be in the spring at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fort Edward.   

Donations may be made in Mrs. Plude’s memory to the National Down Syndrome Society, 666 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10012, or at www.ndss.org.