Sally A. Kearsing

Loudonville - Sally Ann Kearsing (née Osterhout), 76, beloved daughter, wife, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, passed away Tuesday, November 1, 2022, in her home in Loudonville, New York after a long battle with heart and kidney disease.

Sally was born May 3, 1946, to Glenwood and Grace Osterhout in Albany, New York. After graduating from Albany High School, Sally went on to become a telephone operator for AT&T until the birth of her children. She married Elmo Kearsing on May 15, 1965, and they were married for 57 years but, as childhood sweethearts, they had been together much longer.

Sally was predeceased by her father Glenwood Osterhout, her mother Grace Osterhout and her brothers Glenwood and Bruce Osterhout. She is survived by her loving husband Elmo M. Kearsing, her brother Raymond Osterhout, her proud sons Gregory and David Kearsing, her caring daughter Elizabeth Garone, her son-in-law Steven Garone and her grandchildren Katelin Garone, 18, Grace Kearsing, 16, Joseph Garone, 14, and Zachary Kearsing, 12., and several nieces and nephews.

A devoted mother, Sally was a long-time PTA member and president, library assistant and classroom mom at Albany Public School 16. She never met a teacher, janitor or crossing guard that she could not befriend. She was a devoted Scouter, serving as Den Mother and Pack Committee Chairwoman for Pack 14 and later as Troop Committee Chairwoman for Boy Scout Troop 2, both in Albany. She went on to become Troop Leader for Girl Scout Troop 10 where she was fondly referred to as the Big Frog or General during several adventures, camping, etc. For ten years she worked at the JCC as babysitter and all around second mom to 100's of kids throughout the years. Being a mother is what she always wanted to be, and she successfully filled in freely giving hugs, comic relief, support and love to many other kids. After all of this, she was promoted to grandma/Mimi, one of her favorite titles. She felt it was a badge of honor. Her pride for these four showed through in any conversation you have. She was a fighter, strong, caring, funny, stubborn but generous in so many ways. A hug from her could mend any woe. Her smile was contagious. All of these qualities will remain her legacy. She was a member of the Auxiliary for American Legion Joseph E. Zaloga Post 1520.

Sally loved the Autumn and the falling leaves most of all. She spent countless weekends driving with her kids and her mother, leaf peeping throughout New York and New England. While it is perfectly appropriate that she passed while the leaves were still falling, it’s a shame that she could not have made it to another snowfall. The only thing she loved as much was the falling snow and Christmas season. She loved anything with color and ensured her family never dressed in black. "If we dressed in color our mood would be brighter." She appreciated beautiful things and cherished them so much.

In memory, in lieu of flowers as there is a limitation on flowers at the cemetery, please consider a donation to Mohawk Humane Society (https//mohawkhumane.org/) or The Community Hospice (https://www.communityhospice.org/). To keep her memory alive, go leaf peeping, jump in a pile of leaves, build a snowman, bake cookies for a teacher or a crossing guard, chaperone a field trip, crack a joke, be a Scout, get lost in a book. It will bring a smile to her face as she looks down on us.

A visitation will be held Monday, November 7 at Cannon Funeral Home, 2020 Central Avenue in Colonie, NY from 4:00 – 8:00 PM including a prayer service at 7:00 PM. We will meet Tuesday morning at 11:30 am at the funeral home, before proceeding to Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Saratoga.