Obituary of Kathryn W. Prividera

KATHRYN W. PRIVIDERA, MS, RN Latham - Kathryn W. Prividera, 69, of Latham, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, on Monday, October 29, 2012 at the Community Hospice Inn at St. Peter's Hospital, Albany. A lifelong resident of Latham, she was the daughter of the late William and Winifred Webster Jr. Kathryn was a graduate of Shaker High School in Latham and the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She earned a Master's degree in Nursing from Russell Sage College in Troy, graduating as a Clinical Specialist in Community Health. She was also a certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner. Kathryn began her 48-year career in nursing at Albany Memorial Hospital and later taught a generation of nursing students as a professor at Russell Sage College. She also taught nursing at Adirondack Community College in Glens Falls and for many years was an adjunct professor with Excelsior College in Albany. She retired from her position as Women Veterans Program Manager at the Samuel S. Stratton Veteran's Administration Hospital in Albany in 2007. During her more than 16 years at the VA, she was a tireless advocate for women veterans and programs that served their unique health care needs. Dedicated to advancing the nursing profession and nursing issues, she was a past president of District 9 of the New York State Nurses Association; a lifetime member of the New York State Nurses Association; a past president of the Delta Pi Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing; and a former officer of the Memorial Hospital Nurses Alumni Association. Active in her retirement, Kathryn served on the Professional Advisory Committee of the Eddy Visiting Nurses Association and the Memory Gardens Cemetery Board of Directors, where she chaired the Newsletter Committee and co-chaired Friends of the Garden. She also chaired the North Hillsdale Methodist Church Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. In 2011, she became president of Nurses House, a national organization with a mission that spoke to her heart and her eternal desire to help those in need. Nurses House provides financial assistance to registered nurses in need as a result of illness, injury or disability. She was actively serving as president at the time of her death. In addition to her loving children Salvatore I. (Laurie) Prividera Jr. of Loudonville and Sabrina I. (William) Durivage of Latham, survivors include her husband, David Eaton of Hillsdale; step-son, John I. (Scott Bechard) Prividera of Menands; step-daughter, Diane (Kenneth) Hanson of Elbridge, NY; a sister, Barbara (Allen) Jennings of Michigan; a brother, Roger J. (Mehrdad Dehkan) Webster of New York, NY; a sister-in-law, Helen Webster of Peru, NY (wife of her late brother, Robert E. Webster Sr.); grandchildren, Dominic W. Prividera, Tyler W. Durivage, Gabrielle Kathryn Durivage, Jason (Whitney) Zink, and Tera (Bryon) Barger. She is also survived by the father of her children, Salvatore I. Prividera Sr., several nieces and nephews, and her beloved dog, Hannah. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 3, at 10 a.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church, 15 Belle Avenue, Latham. Relatives and friends are invited to call Friday, November 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home, 149 Old Loudon Road, Latham. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Nurses House, 2113 Western Ave., Guilderland, NY 12084. For directions, information or to light a memory candle for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com