Patricia Thornton Duncan

Patricia 'Patty' A. Thornton Duncan, 77

Raymertown - Patricia 'Patty' A. Thornton Duncan, 77, formerly of Route 7 died Monday, December 23, 2013, at Van Rensselaer Manor after a long illness.

Born in Providence, NY, she was daughter of the late Austin Thornton and Ruth Lee Thornton and wife of the late John W. Duncan. She had resided in Raymertown since 1967 and was a graduate of Broadalbin High School.

Patty was the owner and operator of Raymertown Grocery Store from 1967-1986.

Patty was a member of the National Audubon Society, and the Landis Arboretum in Esperance, NY. She took great pride in, and had many hours of pleasure working in her perennial flower beds accompanied by her bassett hound. She loved to cook, collected cookbooks extensively, was always looking for new recipes, or new takes on old ones. She loved baked goods, either from Duncan's Dairy Bar or from her sister , Maggie, saying, "I can cook, but I've never been a baker."She found the most joy in her family, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and siblings. She taught her children and grandchildren how to plant flowers, play the spoons, and play cards (she wasn't above a little gambling), how to play fairly and be a good sport. She loved the Red Sox, the Celtics, and the Cowboys, would watch other teams, but not root for them. She enjoyed music, loved to sing, and play the guitar. She was thrilled when local talents ( Billy Walsh, the Seror brothers) played at her store after closing on Saturday night, and would find a ride to Galway to hear her brother-in-law, Turner's band. She also attempted to teach a few of us to yodel, in that she was thankfully unsuccessful. She loved to visit her siblings "in the country", loved her nieces and nephews as her own. She would praise any and all efforts to no end, and admonish us for our pranks, always with a twinkle in her eye. She was our greatest champion, faithful in our abilities and never doubting our success. Though Alzheimer's and Parkinson's took their toll in recent years, she left a brightness in every life she touched.

Survivors include her children, Jack (Judy) Duncan, Cohoes, Richard (Nancy) Duncan, Raymertown, Terry Duncan, Raymertown, Cynthia (Homer) Bornt, Raymertown and Brian Duncan, Raymertown; four sisters, Sylvia Neahr, Broadalbin, Alice Lowell, Gloversville, Jane Gregg of Florida and Marjorie Gundersen, Galway; a brother, Bernard Thornton, Galway; her grandchildren, Candice Ferritto, Tracy Hobart, Kristen, John and Elizabeth Duncan, Jessica Paul and Kelsey, Amber and Hannah Bornt; several great grandchildren; a nephew, Tom Gundersen; two nieces, Vicki Sikora and Chris Kotraba. She was predeceased by a sister, Donna Remsdell and a brother, Dale Thornton.

Funeral service private at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Patricia A. Duncan to the Raymertown Fire Department Mason Lane Troy, NY 12180.

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