Anna C. (Losaw) Gifford Cronin

Gansevoort – Anna Claire (Losaw) Gifford Cronin, 97, of 15 Kobor Rd., Gansevoort, died peacefully in her sleep Saturday, August 30, 2014 at Pleasant Valley Nursing Home in Argyle. Close family friend Pete Wells was at her side.
Anna was born on April 13, 1917, on the West River Rd in the Town of Moreau. She was the oldest of nine children born to Jacob and Althia Luna (Stevens) Losaw of South Glens Falls.
Anna married the first love of her life Raymond F. Gifford from Gansevoort on February 14, 1937. Together they had a son, William J. Gifford, and ran a successful and growing dairy farm in Gansevoort for over 33 years until Raymond died in 1969.
After leaving the farm, she worked over 25 years as a waitress with her sisters, Margaret Dion and Mary Jane Shumann, at the Quaker House Restaurant at Jacobies Corners in South Glens Falls until it closed.
Anna loved to cook and bake pies for friends and neighbors and always visited people who were sick at home, in a hospital or nursing home. There was nothing better than to visit her home on a cold winter’s day and feel her roast beef stew or chicken and gravy thaw your insides while she wistfully told stories of the old days. She loved to travel and visit family and friends. Her favorite destinations were Florida, county fairs, and any U-pick berry patch or apple orchard usually with a friend in tow. Her closest friends were Laura Sweet, Leona Swears, Eleanor Curtiss, Bonnie Munger, and Della Henstenburg. More than anything, she loved to visit and spend time with her family especially the youngest ones.
An unflappable, tough-minded woman forged from an era of hard work and scarcity, she became a rock for her family and friends and was a steady anchor during life’s hardships and tragedies.
She was the last survivor from her generation and was predeceased by her parents; Jacob and Luna Losaw, her husband; Raymond Gifford, her second husband: Marcus Cronin, her brothers; Lester “Pete” Losaw, Eugene Losaw (D-Day veteran), Jacob “Pod” Losaw (D-Day veteran), Sam Losaw (D-Day veteran), and Andrew Losaw, her sisters; Mary Jane Shumann, Margaret Dion, and Joyce Worth, a grandson; Chan Sherman Gifford, a close family member; G. Albert Clews all from South Glens Falls or Gansevoort, and a daughter-in-law, Nancy (Deyette) Gifford of Hudson Falls.
Survivors include her son; William J. Gifford, Sr. with his wife Linda (Valyer) Gifford of Gansevoort, two grandsons; William J. Gifford, Jr. with his wife Joan Gifford of Sarasota, FL and Raymond F. Gifford with his partner Mark Ouellet of Manchester, NH, five granddaughters; Nancy L. Douglas, Penny A. Hargett and her husband Eric Sr., Mae S. Haese and her husband Rick, Tessie I. Winslow and her husband William, and Wendy L. Gifford all of Gansevoort; 17 great-grandchildren; Jennifer Enchasi, Ryland Gifford and Luke Gifford of Sarasota, FL, Matthew Douglas, Eric Hargett Jr., Nicole Cook, Bryan S. Gifford Bingham, Monica Bingham, Jeff Bingham, Lilly Prouty, Aaron Prouty, Lauren Haese, Angelina Haese, William Winslow Jr., Jacob Winslow, Isabell Winslow, and Andrew Gifford all of Gansevoort, and 5 great-great-grandchildren; Wyatt Douglas, Adalia Hargett, Autumn Hargett, Eric Hargett III, and Catherine Bingham all of Gansevoort. Anna also will be missed by her three closest surviving friends; Joe and Della Henstenberg and Pete Wells all of Gansevoort.
Arrangements are under the care of the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 82 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828. To leave online condolences or to view Anna’s Book of Memories, please visit www.kilmerfuneralhome.com.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, September 6 at 2:00 PM at the Gansevoort Cemetery on Route 50 in Gansevoort.
A reception to celebrate Anna’s full life will follow at Anna Gifford’s home at 15 Kobor Road in Gansevoort immediately following the services.

The family suggests donations be made in Anna’s name to the Gansevoort Volunteer Fire Dept. PO Box 172, Gansevoort, NY 12831.

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