Tag Archives: Cackener

QUEENSBURY and HUDSON FALLS  –  Helen Elizabeth Lewis Cackener, 87, formerly of Hudson Falls and more recently of Queensbury, passed away after a short illness Tuesday, September 24, 2013, at Albany Medical Center.  Born in Elmira, NY, July 4, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Norman P. Lewis and Grace (Oakes) Lewis.

Helen graduated early from Newark Valley High School and then attended Wyoming Seminary Prep School in Kingston, PA for one year before entering Oberlin College.  Helen was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Magna cum Laude, from Oberlin in 1948.  Helen followed in her mother’s footsteps, and felt called to teaching.  She earned a Master’s degree in Teaching from Harvard, where she was elected to Pi Lambda Theta.  In 1964 Helen received a John Hay Fellowship in Humanities to study at Williams College and then attended a NYS Summer Institute in the Humanities at Rochester Institute of Technology.  In the 1980’s, Helen continued her studies in Shakespeare and modern British poets at Worcester College, Oxford, England, and the Ashland Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Helen taught at Westbrook College in Portland Maine, and in Schenectady, prior to coming to Hudson Falls High School in 1960.  Helen taught English, Humanities, and Folklore there for 25 years, retiring in 1985.  She also advised the National Honor Society and served on the Executive Committee of the Hudson Falls Teachers’ Association, as a representative to the Assembly of the NYSTA, and as a state committee member for NYSUT.  Helen was a member of the NYS Folklore Society and wrote folklore and local history articles for the Glens Falls Today and Saratoga Style magazines.  Helen retold local ghost stories to many audiences over the years.

Helen was very active in her community and church.  She served three terms on the Session of the First Presbyterian Church in Hudson Falls where she was the first woman Elder and the first woman to be Clerk of Session.  In 1987, Helen was named Woman of the Year at the Presbyterian Church.  Helen was also honored as Woman of the Year by the Hudson Falls Business and Professional Women’s Club in 2001 and as a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts, Adirondack Council, in 2002.  Along with her husband Robert M. Cackener, Helen was a dedicated volunteer for WMHT and the Adirondack Repertory Dance Theater, a docent at the Hyde Collection, and a volunteer usher for many years at SPAC.  Helen was also an active member of AAUW, Friends in Council, P.E.O., Delta Kappa Gamma, the Morning Literature Group, the YMCA Water Work-Out group, and her local ovarian cancer support group.

Helen was predeceased by her best friend and husband of 53 years, Robert M. Cackener; by her sister, Anne Lewis Livezey; and by her first husband, Daniel Glyndwr Lewis.  Survivors include three daughters, Deborah Lewis Poplasky and her husband, Thomas, of Canandaigua, Elizabeth Lewis-Michl and her husband, Thomas, of Delmar, and Margaret Lewis-Price of Tualatin, OR; seven grandchildren, Caitlin Poplasky Bartusch and her husband, Jeff; Betsy Adkins and her husband, Chad; Glyn Michl, Meredith Michl, Sarah Price, Hannah Price, and Rob Price; and one great-grandson, Thomas Adkins.

A list of Helen’s favorite things would be long indeed.  Helen ’s love of friends and family, her dedication to her students, and her enthusiasm for, to name just a few, books, ballet, chamber music, singing, poetry, modern art, architecture, and swimming in Lake George, will be long remembered.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, September 30, 2013, at Carleton Funeral Home Inc., 68 Main St., Hudson Falls.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church in Hudson Falls, with the Rev. Laura Lovell-Mitchell officiating.   Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Road, Saratoga.

The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to First Presbyterian Church of Hudson Falls, 5 River St., Hudson Falls, NY 12839.

QUEENSBURY & HUDSON FALLS – Robert M. “Bob” Cackener, 89, formerly of Hudson Falls and more recently of The Glen at Hiland Meadows, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 18, 2013, at the Glens Falls Hospital.

Born on March 20, 1924 in Glens Falls, he was the son of the late Millard W. and Madaline (Root) Cackener.

Bob served in the United States Army Medical Corp. on a hospital ship in North Africa during World War II.

He graduated from Hudson Falls High School and in1952, Bob received his Bachelor of Science degree from St. Lawrence University.   He continued his education and was awarded a Masters of Arts degree in education from SUNY at Oneonta.

On April 17, 1960, he married the love of his life, Helen Lewis at the First United Methodist Church in Schenectady and become father to three beautiful young daughters.

For 25 years, Bob taught 5^th grade at Margaret Murphy Elementary School in Hudson Falls, retiring in 1980.    He loved the opportunity to teach and care about so many children. 

Bob was a member of the NY State United Teachers Association and for several years he was the President of the local teachers union.  Bob was a very active man belonging to several organizations.   He was a member, an Elder and a Clerk of the Session for many years at the First Presbyterian Church in Hudson Falls. Other organizations that he belonged to include, the Schenectady Lodge #1174/F. & A.M., The Oriental Temple, AANOMS, the Glens Falls YMCA and an honorary life member and volunteer of S.P.A.C.   Bob loved the ballet and listening to opera.  At the time of his death, he was reading a 500 page book on the history of ballet.  Along with his wife, he was a docent at The Hyde Collection.   Bob was also a member of the American Legion Post 574 of Hudson Falls and volunteered at Station WMHT/WMHX.  

Survivors include his loving wife of 53 years, Helen Cackener of Queensbury; his three daughters, Deborah L. Poplasky and her husband, Thomas of Canandaigua, Elizabeth Lewis-Michl and her husband, Thomas of Delmar and Margaret Lewis-Price of Tualatin, Oregon; his brother, John H. Cackener and his wife, Priscilla of Westfield; seven grandchildren, Caitlin Bartusch and her husband, Jeff, Betsy Adkins and her husband, Chad, Glyn Michl, Meredith Michl,  Sarah Price, Hannah Price and Rob Price; and his great grandson, Thomas Adkins.

Friends may call on Thursday, July 25, 2013 from 4 to 7 p.m.  at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main St., Hudson Falls.

Funeral Services will be conducted 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 26, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church in Hudson Falls, with the Rev. Michael Planke, pastor, officiating.

Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2013 at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in the town of Stillwater.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to First Presbyterian Church of Hudson Falls, Scholarship Fund, 5 River Street, Hudson Falls, NY 12839.