Last week, Marion Sickles, a true and loyal friend of Rosendale Library, passed away.  Ever since she helped form the library association in 1958, Marion has been showing her love and support for our library. We will miss her.

  The Rosendale Library, founded by the Women’s Club of Rosendale and Anna Mae Auchmoedy, was incorporated by the NY State Board of Regents as an Association Library on Oct.24, 1958.  In the same year, the All Saints’ Chapel, which had been left vacant after hurricane flooding, was acquired by Andrew J. Snyder, President of Century Cement Co.  Mr. Snyder then donated the building to become the home of the Rosendale Library.
 

  In the early years our dedicated volunteers would raise all of the money necessary to make the library run.  Marion (at that time known as Mrs. Gene Van Winkle) and the members of the Women’s Club worked tirelessly in these efforts.  It was only in May of 1989 when the library became a Special District Public Library that we were able to receive support from the tax base as we do now.

  Marion went on to serve on the library board of trustees from 1960-1961 and 1985-1998. She served as President of the board in 1998.  During her tenure the library grew and thrived.  At the Rosendale Library Trustees 4^th Annual Awards Dinner on Nov.5, 1989 Marion and her husband, Vincent, received awards for their service to the library. As she received her award, a plaque engraved, “for her many years of loving service to the Library and to all of the people of Rosendale…”  Marion said, “My cup runneth over.”

Ann Sarrantonio and Linda Tantillo