BALLSTON SPA — Verena Marsh Taylor died Aug. 25, 2010, after a brief illness, just as she had wished. She was 88. Extraordinarily fine care was provided to her and her family by the staff of Saratoga Hospital Emergency Room and the Intensive Care Unit. Although her death was a bit unexpected, she did it ‘her way'. Her children are most appreciative that they were able to be there with her.

Verena was born in Thurman, N.Y. She graduated from Cambridge High School as Salutatorian in 1939. From there she attended the Ellis Hospital School of Nursing and became a registered nurse, her lifelong vocation. Most of her career was based at Mary McClellan Hospital, where she rose from floor nurse to head of the obstetrical unit to instructor at the School of Nursing. Although she loved it all, teaching was her passion. Students still remark about what they gained from her instruction and support.

Verena lived in the Cambridge area until around 25 years ago when she moved to Doubleday Woods (Ballston Spa) where she was the reigning queen, having lived there the longest of any resident. She is known there for her sweet disposition, her helpfulness and her magic with plants. Her personal passion was genealogy - she chronicled the family back to the Mayflower! She maintained an incredible e-mail network and was most frustrated when she couldn't make her new computer do what she wanted! She was a voracious reader and researcher of any and everything that came to her attention. She was also a ‘mistress' seamstress and an accomplished knitter.

Verena has four children: Michael and wife, Donna, of Guilderland, Naomi of Cambridge, Kerry and wife, Barbara, of El Paso, Texas and Kathy of Cambridge. She also has 9 grandchildren: Sean, Melanie (Peterson), Christopher and Kim (Hitt) all of El Paso, Texas, Jillyn Lindstead of Cambridge, Paige Evans of Bennington, Vt., Shalya Marsh of Lancaster, Pa., Rachel (Dunkirk) and Brendan of Clifton Park; 10 great-grandchildren and several step-great-grands. She loved trying to keep track of all their comings and goings!

Because she donated her body to the Albany Medical College Anatomical Gifts Program, there will be no burial at this time.

She requested that instead of flowers, any donation be made to the Doubleday Woods Church.

A life celebration for Verena is planned for Sunday, Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. in the Community Room at Doubleday Woods, 91 Church St., Ballston Spa, NY. All are welcome.