Obituary of Leo O. Bartell, Sr.

Leo O. Bartell, Sr., 78, of East Berne, New York, passed away peacefully at home on June 8.

Leo graduated from Guilderland high school in 1962. As a young adult he was an iron worker working in high rise construction steel. Leo retired from Owens Corning Fiberglas, Delmar, where he worked for many years as a machinist mechanic. As retirees, Leo and his wife Leah, devoted themselves to foster care and opened their home and hearts to 93 children. They were recognized by Albany County for their dedication and received the 2004 Foster Parents of the Year award. Leo was also very active in the hill town community and in 2012 he received the Outstanding Community Service to Residents award from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office. He was a member of Rock Road Chapel Ministries and was a very active food pantry volunteer. You may’ve had the pleasure of joking with him at some of his favorite local hangouts; the Mobil gas station, Dollar General and the hardware store.

Leo was the beloved husband of Leah (Pollard); devoted father of Leo Jr., Lee Ann (William) Cullen, Stacey (Timothy) Iveson; grandchildren Michael Archambeault, Brett Cullen, and Alexis, Courtney and Brooke Iveson; great-grandson Michael Archambeault; sisters Laura Bartell and Thelma (Carole) Gunter. Predeceased by his sister Margaret Natale.

Calling hours are at Fredendall Funeral Home, Altamont 4-7pm, Monday, June 14, the funeral will start there at 11am, Tuesday, June 15, followed by burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Albany.