Mrs. Eileen C. Nieuwboer

March 30, 1919 - May 29, 2016

Mrs. Eileen C. Nieuwboer passed away May 29, 2016 at the Wells House in Johnstown with her family by her side. Eileen was born March 30, 1919 to the late Joseph Champagne and Mary Healey. She was a 1936 graduate of Gloversville High School and remained active in planning high school reunions for many decades. She married Albert A. Botch Sr. in 1946 and they owned and operated a small grocery store in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport for nearly 10 years. Albert passed in 1965 and she later married Carl W. Nieuwboer who passed in 2006. She went to work for the Southern New England Telephone Company in the late 1950s and retired in 1981 as Group Chief Operator. She was anxious to return to her “true” home and her family and she and Carl returned to Fulton County in 1983. She was a devoted Roman Catholic, a member of Holy Trinity Church in Johnstown and volunteered for many years at the Kateri Shrine, in Fonda. She was a wonderful cook and baker and enjoyed treating friends and family to her homemade goodies at holiday times. Eileen was very involved with animal rights and welfare organizations, as well as Native American Schools and generously donated her time and resources to whichever group needed her help. She served on the local Board of Elections and enjoyed many years in the company of good friends in the Coterie Club of Johnstown. Eileen was also a very talented artist whose work was exhibited locally several times in her later years, an extremely gifted organist, and an avid gardener who spent many happy hours among her beautiful plants and flowers. She had many much-loved dogs throughout the years and spent her last few years in the company of a beautiful cat named Biddy. She leaves behind her daughter, Margaret Gowans, of Gloversville and her grandchildren Ann Marie Hemstreet and Michael Gowans, and her great-grandson Andrew J. Hemstreet, all of Johnstown. She is also survived by two sisters, Mary Bottisti of Tribes Hill and Jean DesJardins (Leo) of Johnstown, her cousin Francis Healey (Virginia), many cherished nieces, nephews, and step- grandchildren. In addition to her husbands, she was also predeceased by two sisters, Margaret Rupert and Vivian McClary and three brothers, Francis, William, and Malcolm Champagne. She also lost 2 beloved stepchildren, Barbara Thrall and Albert Botch Jr. Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Chapel of Ehle and Barnett Family Funeral Home, LLC, 15 North William Street, Johnstown, NY 12095. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church in Fairfield, CT followed by interment in Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, CT. Special, heartfelt thanks to Missy Horning, R.N. and her amazing staff at the Wells House. They were talented and compassionate caregivers and their kindness and competence is deeply appreciated Memorial contributions may be made in Eileen’s memory to the James A. Brennan Memorial Humane Society, 437 Nine Mile Tree Road, Gloversville, NY 12078 . Condolences to the family can be made online at www.ehleandbarnett.com.