Obituary of Jane Roes

Niskayuna - Jane Lamb Crosby Roes, of Brendan Lane, passed away Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at. Ellis Hospital with her loving family by her side. Born in Gloversville, NY, on February 7, 1930, the beloved daughter of the late Albert Lamb and Elizabeth McCune Lamb. She moved to Schenectady in 1941, graduating from Nott Terrace High School in 1948. Mrs. Roes studied interior design at the Traphagen School of Design in New York City and the Fontainebleau Ecole d'Art in France, where her design of the first plastic webbed aluminum chair won first place in furniture design at the 1949 Grand Palace Furniture Expo in Paris. Upon returning to New York City, she was employed as a floral designer and interior designer. She later became a buyer and department manager at W.M. Whitney Co. in Albany, and worked for May Fair Decorators as a buyer and manager of their store in DeWitt, NY. Mrs. Roes lived and raised her family in Guilderland with her first husband, the late Howard L. Crosby. They owned and operated the Guilderland Gift House on Rte. 20 for 15 years. She was a founder and charter member of the River Valley Chapter of Sweet Adelines Inc., and a member of the Key Tones quartet, placing seventh in an international competition in 1963. She was also a founder and charter member of the Guilderland Historical Society and a charter member of the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce. In 1979, she closed her business in Guilderland and went to work for Felthousen's Florist as a designer. She was later employed as their office manager for ten years before retiring. She married Herbert J. Roes in 1983, and most recently resided in Niskayuna. Mrs. Roes and her husband enjoyed working on their class reunions together for the Nott Terrace H.S. Class of 1948, traveling and the local arts. She was an avid oil painter. Mrs. Roes' memberships include the Schenectady Museum, the Schenectady Historical Society, the Niskayuna Brush and Palette Art Group, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Fontainebleau Alumni Association. She is survived by her husband, Herbert J. Roes, her sister Doris Lamb Mathis of Platteville, WI, her children David A. Crosby (Lucy) of Belhaven, NC, Kathy Crosby Liska (Wayne) of Guilderland, June Crosby Costello (Jon) of Clifton Park, and Paul H. Crosby (Stephanie) of Guilderland, three stepchildren and five grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brother Albert R. Lamb. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Vakiener, Dr. Goykhman, Mary Gillespie, NP and the staff at Ellis Hospital. Donations to the Ellis Hospital Foundation in the name of Jane Roes are welcomed. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral service on Monday at 10 AM at the Jones Funeral Home, 1503 Union St.,(at McClellan St.), Schenectady. Calling hours will be Sunday from 1 PM to 3 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be in Park View Cemetery.