Obituary of Karen P. Layman

     Karen Passonno Layman, 65, passed away peacefully on Monday April 23, 2018 at the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany surrounded by her loving family.   She was born in Troy, New York, on October 22, 1952 and was the daughter of the late Robert W. and Anna Ashline Passonno.  She was raised in the Port Schuyler section of Watervliet, a graduate of St. Brigid’s Grammar School and Catholic Central High School, Class of 1970 (the Class with Class”).

     Karen started working for the New York State Legislature in 1970, right out of high school, where she worked until her retirement in 2007.  She worked the entire time for the Senate Finance Committee/Minority, starting as a typist and ending up as an Executive Administrative Assistant, Confidential Secretary, and Office Manager.  Upon her retirement, and in recognition of her 37 ½ years of service, Karen was presented with a NYS Legislative Resolution, S.3039, introduced by Senator William Stachowski, which was adopted by the Senate on June 21, 2007.  Karen was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in crescent.

     Upon retirement, Karen became a volunteer of both Books For Troops, Inc., serving as Co-Director, as well Operation Adopt A Soldier, Inc., serving on their Board of Directors.  She had a great interest in genealogy on both her parent’s families.

     Karen was the wife of Robert F. Layman for 42 years and mother of Kevin R. Layman (Dareth Hicks) and grandmother of Kathryn E. Layman of Malta.  She is survived by siblings Robert W. (Ellen) Passonno of Watervliet, Janice M. (Thomas) Jackson of East Greenbush, sisters-in-law Kathleen (Lawrence) Hoenig and Patricia (Peter) Mulligan; nieces and nephews; William, Michele, David and Daniel Passonno; Renee and Marissa Jackson; Lawrence (Stacy) Hoenig, Kathleen Hoenig (Keith) Boivin, Kristine Hoenig (Robert) Edwards and Matthew (Natalie) Hoenig; and Stephanie Mulligan; also survived by cousin and dear friend Mary M. Ashline Kelly and childhood best friend Maureen Healey Welch. 

     Funeral will be held on Friday morning at 9:00 AM at St. Mary’s Church in Crescent where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. 

     Calling hours will be from 4-7 pm Thursday in the Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home, 1550 Rt. 9 Clifton Park, NY 12065.

     Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands, NY.

     To those who would prefer to remember Karen by donating to a charity, please consider, the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Avnue, Menands, NY 12204 or Operation Adopt a Soldier, Inc., 4281 Route 50, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

     To express online condolences, please visit Gordoncemerickfuneralhome.com