Gail Anne (Riegert) Whitefield

Troy - Gail Anne Riegert Whitefield, 77, died Saturday September 2, 2023, after a short illness. She was born in Troy, New York to Joseph William Riegert and Rosemary “Midge” Harlan. She grew up in Troy as the oldest of five sisters and graduated from Catholic Central High School and Albany Business College. Wanting to explore the world for herself, she became a stewardess for Mohawk Airlines, based in Newark, New Jersey.  There she met Isaac Whitefield, to whom she was married from 1968 to 1988. She worked most of her life as a paralegal for several large law firms, and most recently for the Legal Project in Albany. She had a strong sense of justice, and a passion for the legal work she did. 

Gail had a strong network of friends with whom she shared traveling adventures, front porch nights and close ties throughout her life.  Her seven grandchildren loved being in the outdoors with her and sharing smaller moments gardening, crocheting and cuddling. A believer in the importance of environmental stewardship, Gail loved spending time in the Adirondacks.  She lived in New Jersey long enough to develop a love for bagels and Taylor ham, which she missed when she moved back to upstate New York. 

Survivors include her three daughters Leah Sapienza, Pamela Whitefield, and Meredith Whitefield, and her seven grandchildren: Russell, Gianna, Evander, Kylie, Ezra, Simone and Miles, as well as her sisters Rosemary May, Nancy Farrell, and Kathryn Casey, and many nieces and nephews. 

All who loved her will be gathering on Tuesday, September 5th from 4-6 p.m. at the picnic pavilion at the Peebles Island State Park to honor her legacy and celebrate her love. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Gail Anne Whitefield to the Riverkeeper, Inc. 20 Secor Road Ossining, NY 10562.  We recommend using the brycefuneralhome.com website to share or send condolences or light a candle.

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