Margaret Rapenske

Margaret Jane Traudt Rapenske, a long time resident of Liberty, NY passed away Wednesday, May 18, 2022 peacefully at her home.  She was 93.

The daughter of the late Martin C. and Margaret A. Connolly Traudt, she was born September 1, 1928 in Canajoharie, NY.

Margaret grew up in Richfield Springs and graduated from R.S.C.S in 1946.  After graduation, she worked as a telephone operator at NYS Telephone in Richfield Springs and later in Cortland, NY.  She married her high school sweetheart, Harry Rapenske, on September 4, 1948 at St. Joseph’s Church in Richfield Springs; they were married for 72 years.  They lived in Nassau, NY for five years before moving to Liberty in 1956.  Margaret worked for 20 years at Sullivan’s Department Store as a receptionist and switchboard operator.  She was a Communicant of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Liberty and a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

Margaret was an avid sports fan, attending many Liberty Central School sporting events.  During the evening she spent hours faithfully watching her beloved Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees.  Her selflessness, kindness and generous heart of gold were traits that highlighted her personality.  She represented the good that we all need every day in our lives.  Her family was her sole focus and she worried and took care of them with unconditional love.  She will be desperately missed by all those that she left behind; her family finds comfort in knowing that she is eternally dancing with dad – the love of her life.

Survivors include her son, Tom Rapenske of Irving, KY; her daughters, Janis Willman of Steamboat Springs, CO, Linda Nash of Rock Hill, NY, Debra TerBush and her husband Tim of Liberty, NY and Cathy Wilhelm and her husband John of Liberty, NY; her grandchildren, Andrea Black (Matt), Amanda Starbuck (Leo), Calvin Henry (Krissy) and Ryan Henry (Meghan); great grandchildren, Rylin, Jordan, Kaden, Kalia, and Michael; several nieces and nephews; one brother, Richard Traudt and his wife Joan of Port St. Lucie, FL; one sister, Patricia Ezell and her husband Howard of Pleasant Hills, MO; and one sister in law, Blanche Rapenske of Waldwick, NJ.

She was predeceased by her loving husband Harry Rapenske on October 26, 2020; her parents; one sister, Barbara Gaylord and her husband William and one granddaughter, Erinn TerBush.

Visitation will be Sunday, May 22, 2022 from 5 to 7 PM in the Harris Funeral Home, West St. at Buckley, Liberty, NY.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, May 23, 2022 at 11 AM in St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, 264 No. Main Street, Liberty, NY.  Father Edward Bader will officiate.

Private burial will be with her husband in the Sullivan County Veteran’s Cemetery, Liberty, NY.

Memorial contributions in Margaret’s name may be made to St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church 264 No. Main Street, Liberty, NY 12754 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home, West St. at Buckley, Liberty, NY 845-292-0001 or 845-439-5200 www.Harris-FH.com