Obituary of Pauline L Bourgeois

Colonie – Pauline L. Bourgeois, 99, formerly of Northside, Waterford, passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2023, days shy of her 100^th birthday.  She was born June 18, 1923, in Napierville, Canada.  The youngest of 13 children, Pauline moved from Canada with her parents, Alice Dufresne Bourgeois, and Pierre Bourgeois and nine surviving siblings in April 1927 at age three to Northside, Waterford, where she resided until 2002.  She then relocated to Columbia Crest Apartments in Cohoes, and then to Loudonville Assisted Living in May 2022.  Pauline was educated at St. Anne’s School in Waterford and graduated in 1941 from St. Bernard’s Academy (later known as Keveny Memorial Academy).  Additionally, she graduated from Albany Business College in 1942.  Upon graduation from ABC, she worked for a brief time for Williams Press, Menands and then Peerless Fibre Company, Cohoes.  She then began her state career in 1944 as a secretary for the New York State Department of Commerce.  In 1958, Pauline transferred to the NYS Department of Civil Service where she became the Special Assistant to the President of the Civil Service Commission.  She retired from there in 1979 with 35 years of dedicated state service.  Later, she assumed a part time secretarial position at the Rensselaer Newman Foundation Chapel and Cultural Center (RPI), where she remained for approximately ten years.  In the seventies, Pauline enjoyed overseas traveling trips to Ireland, The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Scotland, England, and Africa.  Additionally, her leisure time was spent bowling, playing poker and pinochle, and she was known to test her arm agility and endurance at the Saratoga Racino slot machines.  She was renowned for her culinary skills, especially her delicious pies, and you could always count on her to bring “Bourgeois-sized” portions of appetizers, salads, or desserts at family gatherings. She was a former member of the Cohoes Bowling League, the Cohoes Columbiettes, and the Ladies of St. Anne of Waterford.  In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings, Laurina, Harvey, Omer, Bernard (born 1908) Bourgeois, Aline Fleury, Jeannette Bourgeois, twins Marguerite Berthiaume and Claire Arneault, Laurent, Bernard (born 1917), Albert Bourgeois and Berthe Coutu.  Several adoring and devoted nieces and nephews survive.  Though we bid farewell to the last of the baker’s dozen of that Bourgeois generation, we will forever treasure the countless wonderful memories with which she filled our hearts.  Undoubtedly, every niece and nephew can recall, with great affection and pleasure, happy times together for which she was responsible.  Though she did not have children of her own, she assumed such a pivotal role in all our lives.  We looked up to her with admiration, respect and gratitude for the good fortune and privilege of calling her our aunt.  To honor Pauline, we hope you consider doing a kindness for someone to make the same kind of lasting, wonderful memories she created for us.  Funeral on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 10:00am in St. Mary the Assumption Church, Waterford where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by her nephew, Reverend Donald Bourgeois.  Interment will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Waterford.  Relatives and friends are invited to call at the DUFRESNE FUNERAL HOME, Inc., 216 Columbia Street, Cohoes on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, from 4 to 7pm.