Deacon Martin F.J. Stosiek

A funeral Mass was offered May 19 at Our Lady of Hope Church in Copake Falls for Deacon Martin Stosiek, who died May 14. He was 86 and had been a deacon for the Albany Diocese for nearly 38 years.

A native of Germany, he owned and operated Berkshire Pottery in Hillsdale, N.Y., along with his wife, Gertraud. He also served at St. Bridget's parish in Copake Falls, now the parish of Our Lady of Hope, where he helped to start programs like the Human Developmental Fund, the Tri-Town Community Loan Fund and the Christmas food basket program for those in need, and initiated a senior lunch program which was later expanded to include all of Columbia County. He also served on the diocesan Rural Life Commission and Peace and Justice Commission.

Survivors include his wife, Gertraud; five children, Martin of Hillsdale, Michael of Lake Placid, Christina of Germany, Christopher of Hillsdale and Erika Radice of Hillsdale; and 11 grandchildren. Interment was in New St. Bridget's Cemetery, Copake Falls.[[In-content Ad]]