Mary Antonette Potts

April 18, 1911 - September 20, 2013

Mary A. Potts, 102, of Ghent, and formerly a 100 year resident of Hudson, died Friday September 20 at Whittier Adult Home. Mary was born in Alife, Italy on April 18, 1911 to the late Joseph and Carmela (Bucci) Occhibove. Her family settled in Hudson, NY in 1912 where she lived. Mary was the Democratic Deputy Commissioner for the Columbia County Board of Elections for 25 years from 1949-1974. She and her late husband Joseph Potts operated the Paramount Grill in Hudson, first to introduce Pizza to the area in 1950 . Together she and her husband later operated Ferns Restaurant and Bar. Marys long list of achievements include being delegate to President Lyndon Johnsons Inauguration in 1966, local coordinator for the Robert Kennedy Jr. visit to Hudson in 1968, being nominated to serve as a New York State Democratic Committee Women's delegate. She was invited to Hyde Park to meet with Eleanor Roosevelt in 1970, and in 1976 was appointed to serve as the first women commissioner of the Office to the Aging. Mary was a member and communicant of the former Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Hudson as well as President of the Ladies Sodality. She was a matron at the Columbia County Jail, and from 1985-1999 was Clerk for the NYS Compensation Board. She is survived by 3 grandsons: Michael, Joseph, and David Seider, nephews Richard Tracy and Ronald Dinehart, neice Edie Dinehart, and 4 grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her husband Joseph Potts in 1965. She was also pre-deceased by sisters: Rose Dinehart, Rose Gallo, Anna Finn, Margaret Tracy and one brother Anthony Occhibove. Calling hours will be Sunday September 22, from (4-7) pm at the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home 700 Town Hall Drive Hudson. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated Monday 1:00pm at St. Josephs Church Atlantic Ave. Stottville. Fr. Frank O'Connor will officiate. Burial to follow in Cedar Park Cemetery Hudson.