Pauline 'Polly' Freihofer (Mason) Mason

Troy - Pauline ‘Polly’ Freihofer Mason, 76, formerly of 25 th St Troy, a lifelong Trojan died August 22, 2021, at Eddy Village Green in Cohoes after a lengthy illness.

Born in Troy, she was daughter of the late Charles  Mason, Jr. and Ruth Freihofer Lang. She had resided in Troy all her life.  Polly was a graduate of Albany Academy for Girls, class of 1963, Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT as the first college acceptance from the Academy.  She later graduated from Beaver College in Glenside, PA and from Russell Sage College evening division where she earned her Master's in English and Elementary Education in 1975. 

A substitute teacher for several years before working for the Rensselaer County Department of Social Services as a caseworker for 20 years.  

Polly was an active member of the community serving on many clubs including The Junior League of Troy as President from 1979-81 and received Volunteer of the Year in 1983. Polly was a 50 years member (2017) She was very knowledgeable about the Troy area due to her involvement in the League.  Polly was also a member of the Board of Vanderheyden Hall. In her younger years, she enjoyed taking photographs.  She was awarded the Polly F. Mason Community Service Award by the Junior League of Troy,  an award in her name, given to a deserving woman each year. Many years ago she spoke at The Philanthropic 400 for cerebral palsy. Polly was an active and devoted observer of Tamarac and Brunswick sports including boys baseball and girls basketball, supporting many of her former students.  On December 2, 1988, she was on her way to a game when she was involved in a near fatal head on automobile accident, which many thought she would not live through. Polly thanks Dr. Richard Whipple and his team for saving her life. The accident crippled her body but never crippled her spirit, love or giving ways. Her sign-off was always 'xoxo'.  

She is survived by many, too numerous to mention, friends, individuals, 'cheerleaders' which she called her 'borrowed children', having had none of her own.  She was predeceased by her beloved brother, Peter Mason.    

Relatives and friends may call at the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc.  276 Pawling Avenue Troy on Thursday, August 26, 2021 from 12 noon -2pm with a funeral service at 2pm. 

Interment will be in  Oakwood Cemetery Troy.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Polly Freihofer Mason to the Vanderheyden Hall Memorial Fund PO Box 219 Wynantskill, NY 12198 or Center for the Disability Services 314 South Manning Blvd. Albany, NY 12208 or the charity of one's choice. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pauline 'Polly' Freihofer (Mason) Mason, please visit our floral store.