Mary Buchal

On Saturday February 24th Mary Buchal was called home by her Lord and Savior to be reunited with her husband and other extended family members.  Originally from Loudonville, NY she attended the Vincetian Institute, a parochial school in Albany.  She later graduated from SUNY Albany with a Master’s Degree in teaching.  She taught business math, typing, and shorthand in Corinth, Red Hook, and Arlington high schools as well as at Dutchess County BOCES and Dutchess Community College.  She stepped away from teaching to raise her two son’s and only returned to her career once they became teenagers.

While teaching at Red Hook, she was introduced to her future husband, John Buchal.  They married on April 3, 1961 and resided for a short time at Sepasco Village in Rhinebeck before settling permanently in Clinton Corners.  Mary and her family were communicants of Immaculate Conception Catholic church in Bangall where she taught Sunday School and worked with other area churches during the holidays to deliver goody baskets to local shut-ins.

Mary and John always had a large vegetable garden and together they would can and freeze the produce after its harvest.  In addition to the vegetable garden Mary enjoyed cultivating a small flower garden as her way of brightening the landscape of their property.  After retiring from teaching in 1989, Mary became a volunteer tour guide for the National Park Service at Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park.  She also taught bridge at the library in Stanfordville.  Mary continued to live in Clinton Corners after John’s passing in 2016 but eventually moved back to the Capital District once the house became too much for her to take care of.  At the time of her passing, she was residing at The Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs, a nursing home specializing in the care of patients with dementia.

Mary is survived by her two sons Kevin (Lorraine, Timothy & Konner) of Stillwater, NY and Dennis (April, Jacqueline Loper, Gregory and Madeline) of Stanfordville.  Great grandchildren Emery and Everly Loper of Clinton Corners as well as a sister, Ellen Leach of Colonie, NY.  She is also survived by several nieces and nephews residing in New York, Florida, and Texas.

Calling hours are planned for Thursday February 29th from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at Peck & Peck Funeral Homes, 7749 South Main Street, Pine Plains, NY.  A Funeral Mass will take place at 10:00am on Friday March 1st from  St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 15 North Avenue, Millbrook, NY.  Burial will be at St. Mary’s cemetery in Bangall at the convenience of the family.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends to consider donations to the Stanford Rescue Squad, 6096 NY-82, Stanfordville, NY 12581 or the Grange’s Little Food Pantry c/o Stanford Grange 808, PO Box 108, Stanfordville, NY 12581.