Betty Mae Kraemer

November 17, 2012       

ADAMS, N.Y.  —  Betty Mae Hanson Kraemer, 88, beloved sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away peacefully Thursday, Nov. 15, at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown.

Born in May 1924, in Glen Park, a daughter of Leslie and Iva Hanson, she graduated in 1941 from Brownville-Glen Park High School.

She worked at Shaughnessy Corp until 1944 when she enlisted in the Navy where she served in Washington, D.C., until her discharge in 1946. 

Betty worked for Bagley & Sewall until May 1947 when she married Robert J Kraemer Sr. in San Diego, Calif.

Betty has served not only her country but her community belonging to many civic organizations. 

As a volunteer, Betty was most proud of cooking meals out of her own home for the Meals on Wheels Program from 1968 to 1971. Betty was later named Site Manage at the Rohde Community Center for Jefferson County Office of the Aging where she served the Meals on Wheels program and other assistance to the seniors of the community from 1971 to 1997.

Betty is a Life member of the Don Rounds American Legion Post 586 and V.F.W. Post 5344 Ladies Auxiliary. She was a V.F.W. Past President, also Mohawk Adirondack County Council President and held numerous offices in the District. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her civic duties. V.F.W Community Award in May 1979; Village of Adams Citizen of the Year in 2000; and WTVH television’s American Institute of Public Service Jefferson Award in 1985.

Surviving are her husband, Robert J Kraemer, Sr. with whom she shared 65 years of marriage; six children, Linda (Colburn) Boston, Mass., Patricia, Adams, Robert Joseph Jr., Mt Juliet, Tenn., Richard James, Sr. and wife, Sparrow, Watertown, Kathleen, Nashville, Tenn., Elizabeth and husband, Dick Ryder, Adams; three grandchildren, Richard James, Jr., Kerri Anne, both of Watertown, and Leah Leslie, Mt Juliet, Tenn.; a step-granddaughter, Lindsay (Allen), Syracuse; three great-grandchildren, Elijah, Kaidon and Gavin; a brother, Glenn Hanson, Winter Haven Fla.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank all those whom have shared their kind words of support during this time and will welcome everyone during visitation hours 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, at D.L. Calarco Funeral Home, Inc., 135 Keyes Ave., Watertown. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the funeral home. Burial in Calvary Cemetery will be with military honors. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests to honor Betty’s memory; please consider donations for Samaritan Foundation’s Heart to Heart Program in honor of the caring staff of the 4th floor, South Pavilion at Samaritan Medical Center or a Meals on Wheels program in your community.

Condolences may be made to www.dlcalarco.com.






Information provided by D.L. Calarco Funeral Home and Newzjunky.com, Watertown.