Obituary of Karen M. Grattidge

Charlton-Karen Malene Grattidge, 87, passed away peacefully at her home in Charlton, NY in the early hours of Tuesday morning, October 5, 2010. She died of complications arising from Alzheimer's Disease. She was born on February 1, 1923, the second daughter of Olav J. Ohnstad and his wife Frederika on a farm in the village of Aurland, Sogn, Western Norway. She went to school in Aurland; Gymnastics School in Copenhagen, Denmark; and the Karl Johannson School of Business in Bergen , Norway. In her teen years, she was a 'Seter Girl', tending the family's goat herd up in the mountains and making the famous Norwegian goat cheese, 'Getost'. In the summer of 1948, while on a three day hiking trip in the mountains near her home, she encountered an English student (Walter) and a year later they were married. They came to the United States, first to Columbia, Missouri, (University of Missouri), then to Cambridge, Massachusetts, (MIT), before coming to Schenectady, (GE Research Laboratory) in October 1953. In 1956, she began her Real Estate career, first as a salesperson, then as a broker and as an Office Manager at Dorp Homes. She later became Office Manager at Veronica Lynch Inc., which later became the Residential Real Estate division of British American Development Corporation. She retired from real estate after some 35 years. She was an active outdoors person involved in vegetable gardening, hiking,downhill and cross country skiing and was a 46-er. For many years she was the organizer of the Norwegian booth at the International Day, presented by the Schenectady Museum. She was a member of the Newcomers Club, the Scandinavian Forum and she and her husband were members of Allegro Dance Group. Karen was pre-deceased by her parents and also by her sister Ingebjorg. She is survived by her husband of 61 years,Walter, and her brother Johannes O Ohnstad(Liv) of Aurland, Norway; two sons, John Erik(Judith) of Charlton, and Alan Roger(Charlotte) of Charlton; two grand daughters, Emily Ann and Erika Malene, as well as several nieces and nephews in Norway. The family wish to acknowledge the loving counsel, care and support given over several years by her care-givers; staff members of Hospice; Dr. Holub; and Dr. Zimmerman and Beth Boivan and their staff of the Alzheimer's Center at Albany Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 603 State Street, Schenectady on Saturday October 16th. at 11 a.m. Her remains will be interred in the Columbarium at the Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to either the Alzheimer Center at Albany Medical Center, 47 New Scotland Avenue - MC65, Albany, NY 12208, or to the Karen Grattidge Memorial Fund at First Methodist Church, 603 State Street, Schenectady, 12305.