Marie Jorgensen Douglas

Marie M. Douglas, 90

Troy - Marie M. Douglas, 90, daughter of the late Emil and Camilla Jorgensen and wife of the late J. Clark Douglas, died peacefully in the presence of family members after a brief residence at Heritage House Nursing Center, Troy, on Monday, December 24, 2007 having dedicated most of her very active life to the service of others.

A native of Troy, born in Lansingburgh June 3, 1917, she resided in Sycaway for 23 years before moving to Troy Towers apartments in 1994.

A graduate of Lansingburgh High School, class of 1935, she received her Registered Nurse certification from the Samaritan School of Nursing in 1938 and began her work as a staff nurse at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. In 1961, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Russell Sage College, where she remained for many years an active member of the alumnae association.

She remained on the nursing staff of Samaritan Hospital for 49 years, culminating in her appointment as head nurse of the medical/surgical unit. She later became a clinical nursing instructor at the School of Nursing. She retired from the faculty as Administrative Assistant in 1987. She was a member of the planning committee for the School's 100th Anniversary Gala in 2003, and as the oldest of more than 300 nursing graduates attending the event, many of them her students, was also the guest of honor.

In retirement, she dedicated much of her life to volunteer work, mostly on behalf of Troy area senior organizations. Almost always busy and on the go, she served for more than 16 years as treasurer and board member of the Troy Area Senior Service Center. During that time, she also served as president, treasurer and trip planner for the Sycaway Seniors. She will be remembered as a spirited long-time member of the Uncle Sam Sparklers line-dancing group, with which she participated in hundreds of free public dance demonstrations over some 20 years. She was a long-time member of AARP.

In 1997, she was honored by Rensselaer County Department of Unified Family Services as the Senior making the most outstanding contribution in Rensselaer County. In 2001, the Troy Area Senior Service Center elected her as their Senior of the Year. She was recognized on several occasions for her efforts with the Wellness Exercise Group at the Senior Center. In 2004, she was chosen by the Capital District Senior Issues Forum as a recipient of their Senior Lifetime Achievement Certificate of Merit, given only to active seniors 85 and older.

In her later years, she was a communicant of the First Presbyterian Church of Lansingburgh.

She is survived by nieces Marilyn (Douglas) Hasbrouck and family of Glenmont, Virginia (Gordon) Knippel and family of Arden, North Carolina, Phyllis (John) Palitsch and family of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and Betty (Paul) Engineri and family of Interlaken. She is also survived by a cousin Florence (Floyd) Brown, Sr. of Latham, her son Floyd (Cindy) Brown, Jr. and family of Clifton Park, and her daughter Ellen Kelly and family of Ballston Lake.

The family wishes to express sincere appreciation to the many dedicated staff members of Community Hospice and Eddy Heritage House for the very compassionate care and thoughtful attention given to Marie during the last few weeks of her life. Thanks also to the Uncle Sam Sparklers for their recent performance at Heritage House in celebration of Marie's many years as a member of the group.

Funeral services will be held at Bryce Funeral Home, Inc. 276 Pawling Avenue, Troy, at 11 am on Friday, December 28. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home Thursday from 3- 6 pm. Interment Oakwood Cemetery Troy.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Troy Area Senior Service Center Memorial Fund, 19 Third Street, Troy, New York 12180, or the Community Hospice of Rensselaer County, 295 Valley View Road, Rensselaer, NY 12144.

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