Cohoes – M. Annette (Fontaine) Dawkins, 97, of Cohoes, died on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at home with her loving family by her side.  Born in Cohoes, she was the daughter of the late William and Parmelia Daley Fontaine.  She was a graduate of Cohoes High School and belonged to the Cohoes High Alumni Association.  She was the office manager for her husband, Dr. Richard F. Dawkins, who practiced podiatry in Cohoes for 40 years.  A communicant of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Cohoes, she was a member of the Ladies of St. Anne and enjoyed singing with the choir.  She belonged to the Saturday Club at the United Church of Cohoes and served on the organizing committee for the annual fashion show and luncheon fundraiser for the Cohoes Community Center.  Annette and Dick were members of the Van Schaick Country Club.  They enjoyed spending evenings at the Century House in Latham with friends, old and new.  Annette had an artistic flair.  She enjoyed China painting and creating porcelain dolls.  She painted and designed bird houses for family and she took delight in watching the birds as they visited her bird feeders.  She enjoyed attending the Carmody family gatherings.  Annette is predeceased by her loving husband of 53 years, Dr. Richard F. Dawkins and her loving son, Richard W. Dawkins as well as Leo Shaw and Kieran A. Matthews.  She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Susan Dawkins and Kate and Gerry Matthews as well as her nephews, John (Barbara) Dawkins and Michael (Cynthia) Dawkins and their children.  She is also survived by her lifelong friend, Marie Costello (late Earl Costello) and her children, Joseph (Jeanne) Costello, Earl (Beverly) Costello, Ann Marie Lange, Kate (Gerry) Matthews, Dr. Kevin (Ann-Marie) Costello and Maureen Shaw.  She was affectionately known as Aunt Netsie to Marie’s children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  She served the cherished role of Naunie to Deirdre (Joe) Stynes, and their children Conall, Maeve and Saoirse, Siobhan (David) LeBlanc and Niamh (Aiden) Schweitzer and their children Tiernan and Aibhlinn.  A special thank you to Dr. Donna Heffernan and Robin Conley for their care.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Cohoes on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 10:00am.  Interment will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery, Cohoes.  Relatives and friends may visit with the family at the DUFRESNE FUNERAL HOME, Inc., 216 Columbia Street, Cohoes on Wednesday, from 4 to 7pm. Donations to the Food Pantry at Holy Trinity Parish, 122 Vliet Blvd., Cohoes in memory of Annette would be appreciated.  

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