Ilah R. Belden

Early Friday evening, April 26, 2013, Ilah passed away at St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam, NY. She was born in Lisbon, NY on June 18, 1924, the daughter Fred and Eva Riley Weeman. She was raised in that location and graduated from Canton High School in 1941. After receiving her degree from Potsdam State Teachers College, she went on to pursue her dream of teaching children. Ilah taught in Copenhagen, Carthage and Schenectady schools, receiving tenure from Schalmont Central School District in 1961. Ilah became Mrs. Curtis Belden on December 20, 1962 in the couple's future home on Gordon Rd. Although the Schenectady area was always "home" to them as adults, they also lived briefly in Baldwinsville, NY, San Jose, CA, and Lancaster, PA. After Curt's sudden death in 1972, Ilah moved her family to a home in Scotia and became a teacher at Glenville Cooperative Nursery School. Later, she was employed by Baptist Retirement Center in the Volunteer Coordination department. Ilah enjoyed attending her children's sports events, crafts, decorating, knitting, listening to and playing music, and spending time with family and friends. She frequently had nieces, nephews and friends along with her own children for sleep -overs or picnics. Grandchildren eventually came and filled her life with new joy. Ilah was a member of the Scotia-Glenville Senior Center and participated in such things as writing memoirs and more. Her church and her church friends at Scotia United Methodist provided for her spiritual side. She was a member of the Baptist Auxiliary. Her life was very full. She is survived by her children Adam Stacey Belden, Glovers-ville, NY and Kate Terry Grim, West Union, WV; her grand-children, Arden Belden, Aiden Morey and Bessie Grim; her sister, Marion Northrup, Rexford, NY; several cousins and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, her husband, Curt , and her brother, Arden, predeceased her. Thanks to the staff at St. Mary's Hospital and Mohawk Valley Dialysis Center for their care. A memorial service will be held Saturday May 4, 2013 at Scotia United Methodist Church at 2 p.m.