Obituary of Linda J. Varelas

* UPDATE FOR LOCATION OF CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE*  CHURCH SERVICE WILL BE AT MITCHELL HOLLOW MISSION CHURCH on Saturday, June 28th at 11 AM

Linda Varelas went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at her residence in East Jewett. She was born on October 9, 1944, in Little Falls, New York to Elwood and Alvena Hitchcock (née DeLong). 

In 1962, she graduated from Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District. Four years later in 1966, she graduated from SUNY Oneonta. She devoted many years to teaching beginning at Rhinebeck Central School and later at WAJ. While raising her children, she substituted for many years before securing a full-time 6^th grade position in 1992. Teaching was her joy, and she cherished each of her students. She followed many of them years after their graduation. In 2009, she retired after many fruitful years.

Her fondness for her classmates of the graduating class of 1962 continued throughout her life. She was faithful in sending cards for birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions. At Christmastime, she would send a photo along with a letter commemorating special events in her classmates’ lives.  

She attended Mitchell Hollow Mission Church where she was an active participant. She completed a comprehensive directory of the attendees which showed their birthdays, anniversaries, and other information. This initiative helped facilitate communication among the attendees. Earlier in her life, she was a member of the United Methodist Church in East Jewett where she served as a Sunday School teacher and played the organ or piano. She frequently sang at weddings, funerals, and church services.

As a patriotic American, she was proud of her lineage dating back to the American Revolution. She was a member and served as historian of the Johannes Hardenbergh Chapter NSDAR. Every Memorial Day Weekend, she and her sister put flags on the graves of soldiers from the American Revolution and the Civil War. Although feeling weak, she managed to help put flags on the graves this past Memorial Day Weekend. Additionally, she was a member of the women’s auxiliary at Sgt. James F. Carty VFW Post 1545.

She was predeceased by her parents, Elwood and Alvena Hitchcock, and her older brother, Lt. William Hitchcock, USN.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, James Varelas; her three children, Kathy (Ralph) Marino, Peter Varelas, and Christina (Joe) Kraszewski; her beloved grandchildren, Leanna Marino, Nicholas (Emily) Marino, Joseph (Owen) Marino, Jack Kraszewski, and Emma Kraszewski. She is also survived by her brother, Tom Hitchcock, sister, Susan Neugebauer, brother-in-law, Nick (Elsa) Varelas, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She leaves behind a bereaved family and many friends whom she loved dearly. Every Christmas, she mailed a heartfelt letter filled with news about her family’s yearly activities, along with a family photo. As a 42 champion, she will be missed by many players who appreciated her competitive spirit. She played many games in her lifetime and usually won when partnering with her sister. Each night from 6:00-7:00, when she was not playing 42, she worked on her latest puzzle while watching the evening news. Upon completion, she would take a picture and then pass the puzzle on to a neighbor.

She was a faithful servant of God who shared her Faith with others and gave Bibles to people she met. She leaves behind a stack of index cards of Bible verses she had written out and memorized. She never wavered in her trust in God. Her life verses were Proverbs 3:5-6.

Visiting hours will be at the Decker Funeral Home in Windham, NY on Friday, June 27 from 2:00 to 6:00 pm.

Care has been entrusted to Decker Funeral Home, Condolences may be left at www.deckerfh.com

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider charitable donations to Mitchell Hollow Mission Church, 893 Mill St, Windham, NY 12496 or Huntersfield Ministries, 248 Huntersfield Road, Prattsville, NY 12468.