James W. Whalen, Sr

James W. Whalen Sr., 87

Troy - James W. Whalen Sr., 87, formerly of Burdett Avenue Troy died Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center Cohoes after a brief illness.

Born in Troy, he was son of the late Thomas M. Whalen Sr. and Mary Winder Whalen and husband of the late Marjorie A. Fagan Whalen . He had resided in Troy all his life, was a graduate of LaSalle Institute and attended Siena College.

Mr. Whalen owned and operated Thomas M. Whalen Awning Company on River Street in Troy for 30 years and later was Northeast Sales for Glens Falls Cement, retiring 15 years ago.

He was a member of the Country Club of Troy Board of Governors, Board of Directors of Northeast Health, President for life of the Codfish Boys, a communicant of Sacred Heart Church and a member of the LaSalle Sports Hall of Fame. He was an avid golfer and a Navy veteran of World War II serving in the Pacific Theatre.

Survivors include two daughters, Maureen W. (Walter) Murphy of Marblehead, MA and Denise W. (Robert) Spellmeyer of Loudonville; a son, James W. (Barbara) Whalen Jr. of Newark, DE; four grandchildren, Michael and John Murphy, James W. (Dee) Whalen III and Maria Whalen; two step grandchildren, Scott Spellmeyer and Christie Rudolph; two great grandchildren, Grace Whalen and Chloe Whalen; four step great grandchildren, Katherine and Emma Collins, Hannah Rudolph and Porter Spellmeyer and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers and three sisters, Thomas M. Whalen Jr, Virginia Strang, Irene Dodson, George and John Whalen and Mary McGraw.

Funeral service will be held Saturday at 8 AM at the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc. 276 Pawling Avenue Troy and at 8:30 AM at Sacred Heart Church Troy where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated.

Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 4-8 PM.

Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery Troy.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of James W. Whalen Sr. to the Academy of the Holy Names 1065 New Scotland Road Albany, NY 12208 or La Salle Institute Building Fund 174 Williams Road Troy, NY 12180.

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