Joan K. Murtha

Livingstonville- Joan Kliment Murtha died on September 30, 2017 at the St. Peter’s Hospice Inn in Albany.

She was born on December 31, 1932 in Rochester, NY but still claimed to be 39 years old.  Joan was raised by Anna (Kliment) and Alfred C. Kroeger, composer and violinist for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.  A woman of honesty, integrity and grace, Joan valued her relationships with family and friends, always remembering birthdays and special occasions. She was dedicated to her work as a bookkeeper and worked as recently as this past summer. Joan enjoyed baking Christmas cookies and cooking. She made excellent pickles, jam and jellies. She loved to watch Dancing with the Stars, making crafts and getting together with her friends. She had a great sense of style and loved a good bargain.

Joan is survived by her husband Edwin F. Murtha, and by her sons Robert A. Murtha and his wife Selene Santucci of Pullman, WA, Paul E. Murtha and his wife Diedra (Molyneaux) Murtha of Ocala, FL and John (Jack) M. Murtha of Clarksville, TN, and by her daughter Susanne Murtha and spouse Tom Connelly Akstens of East Greenwich, RI. She is also survived by her oldest granddaughter Michelle (Murtha) Swift, her husband Adam Swift and their daughters Alexa and Evelyn of Richmond, VA, and by her granddaughter Shannon Murtha of Laurel, MD.

A graveside service will be held at the Livingstonville Cemetery, Mattice Road,  at 2 pm on Tuesday, October 3, 2017. An open house for friends and family will be held afterward to celebrate her life at the Town of Broome Volunteer Fire Department’s Teter Hall.

Memorial contributions may be sent to The Community Hospice, 315 South Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208 or to the Town of Broome Volunteer Fire Department, 453 Route 145, Middleburgh, NY 12122.

Coltrain Funeral Home, LLC, of Middleburgh, is honored to be caring for Joan and her family.

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