Aldona Harder

Aldona Harder of Youngsville, NY, a retired schoolteacher, passed away peacefully, with her granddaughter by her side, on May 31, 2024, at the age of 107. She was a resident of Roscoe Regional Rehabilitation Heath Care Facility, Roscoe, NY. 

Aldona was born on June 30, 1916 in Flatbush Brooklyn, NY, where she spent her childhood and early adult life. After graduating from New York University with an accounting degree, at the age of 22, Aldona was off to Chicago Illinois to work for the Chicago Tribune. It was there that she met the love of her life, Herbert Harder. After three months, they married and began their family; shortly thereafter, they had two sons, Bradley and Douglas. Not long after, Aldona and her family, moved to Youngsville, NY to help her mother run the Hotel Claire.               

 Aldona’s dream was to become a schoolteacher; she attended SUNY New Paltz, and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Aldona began her teaching career at Liberty School District, her first assignment was being the teacher in the one room schoolhouse located on Ferndale Loomis Road in Liberty, NY. Once that building closed, Aldona was moved to the White Sulphur Springs School, where she taught 4th Grade and retired 24 years later. Teaching was one of the joys in Aldona’s life. Up to the day she died, Aldona frequently told stories of her teaching career and still remembered specific children and their personal stories. 

She was a Communicant of St. Francis Roman Catholic Church, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Youngsville Fire Department for a number of years, and she volunteered at the Jeffersonville Public Library. She also belonged to various sewing clubs with friends from the community. 

Aldona’s greatest joy and fulfillment in life was her family. She is survived by her son, Douglas Harder; her grandchildren, Bradley Harder II (Cindy), Cheryl Graham (JP), Douglas Harder Jr. (Jen), Timothy Harder (Asha), and Damien Harder (Christina); 12 great-grandchildren, Ryan and Kayla Graham, Anna, Adam, Austin, Crosby, Paget, Sophia, Christopher, and Kiran Harder, and Deven and Amaya Thibedeau. 

She was predeceased by her husband, Herbert Harder; one son, Bradley Harder; and daughters-in-law, Barbara Harder and Nancy Harder.

Visitation will be Tuesday, June 11, 2024 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM in the Harris Funeral Home, West St. at Buckley, Liberty, NY. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 11 AM in St. Francis Roman Catholic Church, Route 52, Youngsville, NY.   Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Youngsville, NY. 

Memorial contributions in Aldona’s name may be made to the Youngsville Fire Department, Jeffersonville Public Library, Roscoe Rehabilitation and Nursing Home, or a charity of one’s choice. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home West Street at Buckley, Liberty, NY. 845-292-0001 or 845-439-5200 or www. Harris-FH.com