Obituary of Alberta Jane Pakozdi

Alberta Jane Pakozdi (née Foster), 89, of Peekskill, New York passed away on October 20, 2016. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 24, 2016, at 11:30am at the Church of the Assumption, 131 Union Avenue, Peekskill, New York. Jane, as she was known to friends, was born on April 17, 1927, in Syracuse, NY to the late Marguerite and Herman Foster. She was raised in Buffalo, NY and Jersey City, NJ, along with one sister, the late June Arturi. She held numerous jobs throughout her life including work at a defense plant during World War II and a wide variety of positions in the restaurant industry, but the roles she took the most pride in were those of wife and mother. She raised five children with her husband Paul in Elmsford, NY before they retired to Sebastian, FL. She later returned to Westchester County to be near her youngest two grandchildren, Marina and Kaelin Martin. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, entertaining at home, gardening, playing cards, crafting, and reading and reciting poetry. Jane was an avid volunteer who gave her time to community organizations including the Pocantico Hills Central School Board of Education, Church of the Magdalene, Woman’s Club of Pocantico Hills, Boys and Girls Scouts, Blythedale Children’s Hospital, and EL-DOES of the Sebastian Elks Lodge, to name a few. She will be remembered for her devotion to her family, love of animals, loyalty to friends, and wry wit. She is survived by two sons, Paul Pakozdi and David Pakozdi; two daughters, Marguerite Pakozdi and MJ Martin: a stepdaughter, Paula Rubino; five grandchildren: Marialena Pakozdi, Miranda Pakozdi, Devon Breton-Pakozdi, Marina Martin and Kaelin Martin; and four step grandchildren: Anna-Marie Cavalea, Paulette Andre, John Rubino, and Kimberly Claer. Her husband of 49 years, Paul Pakozdi, predeceased her. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jane’s memory may be made to PetSmart Charities, https:// www.petsmartcharities.org.