Barbara J. Girodias

Barbara Jane Girodias died peacefully at her family homestead on April 28th, 2024, surrounded by family. She was 94.

Barbara was born on September 16th, 1929 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Lester and Grace Hearn (Sand). She lived on Long Island and graduated from Hempstead High School in 1947. She remembered her summers growing up being spent at the family farm in Knox, where she attended charade parties and square dances at the old schoolhouse (where the fire department now sits). She later attended the University of Vermont in Burlington where she graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, with a minor in Education. She worked for three years for Nassau County as a welfare case worker.

Barbara later met her husband Rene, and they were married at the Cathedral of Incarnation in Garden City, NY on November 6th, 1954. They continued to live on Long Island raising their family, before moving to the Knox farm in 1982, after Rene retired. They loved to travel together; visiting France twice, and taking several cruises together in the Caribbean; one of which occurred during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. They often took mini-vacations to Lewis County, NY for several days. For many years, Barbara and Rene enjoyed antiquing together, and even rented a space in Kinderhook, NY to sell their items, which they were very successful at.

She was an avid genealogist, tracing her family's history back to the original settlers of the farm. She located distant relatives all across the United States. Her research led to a connection to President Martin Van Buren. She was an enthusiastic reader of historical books, and her family thought she should have been a contestant on Jeopardy! due to her vast knowledge in a wide array of topics.

Barbara is survived by her children, Ken (Kathy) Girodias of Cary, NC and Susan VonHaugg of Knox, NY. She is also survived by her six grandchildren; Ellen Girodias of Scottsdale, AZ, Ben Girodias of Seattle, WA, Matthew (Cindy) VonHaugg of Knox, NY, Joshua (Colby) VonHaugg of Coon Rapids, MN, Marleana VonHaugg of Knox, NY, and Tarah VonHaugg of Knox, NY. Barbara was set to become a great-grandmother in May.

Her parents and brother, Fred Hearn, died before her.

A funeral service for Barbara will be in the Knox Reformed Church 2175 Berne Altamont Road, Altamont on Thursday May 9th at 12:30pm. Family and friends are invited to visit with Barbara's family in the church prior from 11am-1230pm. Interment will immediately follow the funeral Service in Knox Cemetery, Knox.

As a loving pet owner herself, Barbara always looked forward to WTEN's Pet Connection with Steve Caporizzo. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society at https://mohawkhumane.org/donate.