IN MEMORIAM
Frederick S. Veseley, 92;
Former Farmer Tended
Cooperstown Museums
HARTWICK – Frederick S. Vesely, Sr., 92, former buildings and grounds superintendent at The Fenimore House and The Farmers’ Museum, passed away early this morning, June 28, 2019, at Fox Nursing Home. He lived in the Town of Burlington.
He was born Feb. 24, 1927, in New Windsor, one of 10 children of Andrew and Matilda (Gaydos) Vesely. In his youth, Fred attended a one-room schoolhouse in Little Britain. At the age of 16, he left school and went to work for Crowley’s Dairy Company.
On Aug. 15, 1948, he married Jeanne M. Oles in Newburgh.
After working for Crowley’s for 30 years, he retired at age 46, and he and his family moved to Hartwick, where he owned and operated a dairy farm. After the barn burned in 1976, he retired from farming and went to work at The Farmers’ Museum and The Fenimore House, where he was in charge of buildings and grounds.
After Jeanne passed away on Dec. 10, 1987, Fred married Doris Grant on May 27, 1989, in a ceremony at St. Mary’s Church in Oneonta. Doris passed away on Aug. 16, 2010.
For many years, Fred was a communicant of St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown.
Fred is survived by his two sons, Frederick “Rick” S. Vesely, Jr. and wife, Roberta, of Hartwick, and Michael “Mike” L. Vesely, Sr. and wife, Coleen, of Springfield Center; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson; one sister-in-law, Joyce Vesely, of Walden; a brother-in-law, Robert Ferris, Sr. of Vails Gate; and many nieces and nephews. He is further survived by one stepson, Robert Blais, and wife Linda, and a step daughter-in-law, Sherri Blais, all of Bethel; one step-daughter, Linda Citro Gorton and husband, Forrest, of Jeffersonville; eight step grandchildren; and 12 step great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Jeanne M. Vesely, his second wife, Doris Blais Vesely; a step son, Jay Blais; and all his siblings.
Calling hours are 6-8 p.m. Monday, July 1, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut St., Cooperstown.
The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic, 31 Elm St., Cooperstown, with Fr. David Wm. Mickiewicz, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Oneonta, presiding.
The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown.
Memorial donations may be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
