Clara L. “Cow” Derusha

GANSEVOORT – Clara L. “Cow” Derusha, 66, of Stump Street, passed away at her home, on Sunday, June 19, 2016.
Born on May 4, 1950, in Whitehall, she was daughter of the late Adelord and Lillian (Valley) Caprood.

On July 2, 1969, she married Merle Derusha. He passed away in 1979, leaving her as a single parent to raise her three children.

Clara spent most of her life taking care of others. She raised her own children with the help of her longtime companion, Richard McKittrick, Sr. She also helped raise her step-children and grandchildren. Clara made sure anyone that walked through her door was instantly family and she would take them under her wing.

She enjoyed fishing in South Bay and Lake Champlain. Clara also loved her dogs, especially Bob Marley and her mangy black cat, Beulah. She also was very good at playing computer games and spent some time being a Facebook “stalker”. She also was an avid cow collector.

In addition to her parents, husband and companion, Richard, she was predeceased by her sister, Beverly Gordon.

She is survived by her children, Walter B. Caprood, Sr., and his wife, Debra of Fort Edward, Judy Knapp of Glens Falls, April Wheeler and her husband, Jeffrey of Argyle and Maria Tatsey of Saratoga Springs, Richard McKittrick, Jr. of Salem and David McKittrick, also of Salem; her grandchildren, Effie Derusha, who has been her faithful caregiver for the past 12 years, Michael Derusha and his fiancé, Lindsey Middleton, Justin Derusha and his companion, Nancy Rafferty, Floyd Knapp, Tiffany Knapp, Tiffany Miller, Walt B. Caprood, Jr., Lillian Caprood, Christopher Caprood, Makayla Caprood, Owen Ball, Joseph Ball, Alexander Williams, Jessie Derusha,  Jeffrey Wheeler, II, Emma Wolfe and Alice Sousie; her great grandchildren, Gavin, Clara, Noel and Damien and several other great grandchildren; her brothers and sisters, Donnie Caprood, Ray Caprood, Walter Caprood, Mildred Palmer, Dora Wall and Jackie Barber; her sister in law, Margaret McDuff; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends may call on Saturday, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main Street in Hudson Falls.

Memorial donation may be sent to the American Cancer Center, 1 Penny Lane, Latham, New York 12110 or the American Diabetes Association, 2 Pine West Plaza, Albany, NY 12205.