Barbara Rinkewich Kusek

Saratoga Springs, NY Barbara Rinkewich Kusek, formerly of Cohoes, New York, died peacefully in Saratoga Springs on October 17, 2022. Barbara spent her childhood in Muskogee, Oklahoma, cementing her status as a life-long Oklahoma Sooner fan early on. After her junior year of high school, she moved to Tokyo, Japan with her parents and brother, where she was Valedictorian of her senior class at Narimasu High School and received her Baccalaureate. She later moved to Panama with her family, then to Fort Dix in New Jersey where she met her husband, Edward. Barbara and Edward married in October 1954 and settled in Keyport, New Jersey where they raised their family until moving to Cohoes, New York in 1972. After her husband's passing in 1975, Barbara went to work for the Veterans’ Affairs office in Albany, New York and later for the Internal Revenue Service for 17.5 years. In addition to rooting for OU, Barbara was an avid Yankees' fan, naming her beloved cat "Jeter." Closer to home, she loved watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren's various sporting events, dance and music recitals. Barbara was known for her amazing baking skills, giving a piece of her heart with everything she made - whether it was Christmas-time goodies or a pistachio cake on your birthday. Barbara was predeceased by her husband Edward Rinkewich and mother and stepfather, Clovia and Arnold Phelps. Barbara leaves behind her loving family, sons Edward (Robin) Rinkewich of North Port, Florida, William (Donna) Rinkewich of Endicott, New York, and Stephen (Mary Jo) Rinkewich of Cohoes, New York; grandchildren Andrea (Shawn) Howard, Brianna (Kyle) Pearce, Danielle Rinkewich, Kylene (Matthew) Hamblin, Jenna (David) Rogers, Jamie (Joshua) Hammond, Justin Rinkewich, Catherine Rinkewich (fiance Christopher Brown), and Nathaniel (Sarah) Rinkewich; beloved great-grandchildren (Adriana, Tyler, Emma, William, Wyatt, Ava, Penelope, Donovan and Alleah); brother Billie Bernard of California and nephews. The family wishes to extend its sincerest thanks to the staff of Home of the Good Shepard for their kind and supportive care of Barbara over the past two years. Family and friends may call Friday, October 21, 2022 from 4-6pm at Marra Funeral Home, Cohoes. Funeral Services will follow at 6pm. Barbara will be laid to rest at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Keyport, New Jersey in a private ceremony for the family. In lieu of flowers, donations in remembrance of Barbara's life may be made to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society or the Northeastern New York Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.