HARWICH, MASSACHUSETTS - Jane Spraker Potrikus, 89, of Harwich, Massachusetts, and formerly of Cooperstown, New York, and Little Falls, New York, died January 6, 2017, after a brief battle with cancer.
Her life centered on devotion to her family and to her Catholic faith. She was a communicant of and proud alto for the choir at Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich, Massachusetts, where, until November 2016, she volunteered weekly for the Perpetual Adoration Chapel and work at the parish thrift shop.
Jane was the only child of Francis and Jennie Spraker of Little Falls, New York. She, in turn, is survived by nine children: Ellen Barber of North Adams, Massachusetts; James (Heidi) of Kansas City, Kansas; Joan (David) Bruce of Clifton Park, New York; Michael of New Bern, North Carolina; Joseph (Doreen) of Fly Creek, New York; Timothy (Lisa) of Somers, Connecticut; Ted (Angie) of Niskayuna, New York; Marilyn (Joel) Habercorn of Hartwick, New York; and Anthony (Peter) of New Bern, North Carolina. She also is survived by 25 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
She is predeceased by her parents, her husband, John (1978), her son, Charles (1975), and her daughter, Catherine (2011).
Jane was graduated from Little Falls High School and the Utica School of Commerce. She was employed at the H.P. Snyder Bicycle Manufacturing Corporation of Little Falls, where she met her World War II Veteran husband-to-be, John M. Potrikus. They married in 1948 and moved to Cooperstown, where Mr. Potrikus opened and operated the Cooperstown Dry Cleaners. Upon her husband's death, she assumed the ownership of the family business and operated it with her son, Michael.
Jane moved permanently to Cape Cod in 1986, and was graduated from the Sheffield School of Interior Design in 1989. She was employed by Bayfair Design Studio in Orleans, Massachusetts, for many years. She participated in parish activities and community groups, and always welcomed family and friends to share her hospitality and love for the Cape. She enjoyed travels with family and friends and kept a busy schedule until the final weeks of her long life.
Jane spoke often of her deep pride for the accomplishments that each of her 11 children and their respective families had achieved. Her children and their families will continue to speak of her as a role model, wise and devoted advisor, cheerleader, and motivator to whom each could turn without hesitation.
Each whom she leaves behind and the many who knew and loved her throughout her life could fill pages with stories of her unassuming compassion, wit, courage, intelligence, selflessness, creativity, cooking, budget-stretching, and countless other skills for which she had boundless talent and energy. Overriding them all would have been her quiet humility, because were she to read this particular paragraph she surely would chide its authors for overstating her place in our lives. For just this once, though, we respectfully would correct her.
Calling hours are from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon only on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown, New York.
The Liturgy of Christian Burial follows immediately thereafter (beginning at Noon) at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown, New York.
Jane's family will be in attendance at a reception in the Parish Center after the Mass.
Interment at St. Mary's Cemetery in Index, New York, follows at a date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Jane's name to The McCarthy Care Center, 73 Service Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Jane's name to The McCarthy Care Center, 73 Service Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
