Meredith "Merri" Meislahn

Funeral information

Home: Albany, NY	Place of Birth: Chicago, IL
Date of Death: March 8, 2010	Birthdate: February 13, 1945
	Age: 65

Service information: Saturday, March 20, 2010 11:30 AM First Presbyterian Church, Albany, NY

Biography

Meislahn, Meredith G. ALBANY Meredith G. Meislahn, of Albany, passed away on March 8, 2010 at St. Peter's Hospital from cancer. She was 65. Born in Chicago on February 13 1945 to Joseph and Jean Gowdy, Merri was an only child. Her early years were spent in Houston, Texas where she was a competitive tennis player. She moved to Albany as a teenager, and was a graduate of Bethlehem Central High School and Lasell Junior College. In the early 90s, she moved with her family to R.I. for four years before returning to the Capital Region. Merri had an abundance of energy and spent much of her time outside the home in community activities. She was a president of the Bethlehem Garden Club, a board member of Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood and Habitat for Humanity and a dedicated volunteer for Equinox. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Albany where she served as an elder and deacon. Known for her vibrant and outgoing personality, Merri found great delight in her friendships. From tennis partners to sailing mates, fellow volunteers to book club members, local neighbors to longtime Lake George cohorts, Merri treasured her friends and always held them close to her heart. Merri had a great love for animals and the outdoors; she could often be found walking a dog or digging in the garden. Snowy winter weekends were spent skiing at Jiminy Peak where she had a lifetime pass while sunny, warm summer days were spent sailing on Lake George. She was a member of both the Northern Lake George Yacht Club and the Barrington Yacht Club in R.I. Always excited for an adventure, Merri and her husband have sailed throughout North America and the Caribbean with friends and family. She also enjoyed organizing trips to visit the American West, Alaska and Europe. Merri is survived by her husband of 40 years, Harry P. Meislahn; their three children, Brooke Killian (Robert) of Slingerlands, Leigh Dennis (Fred) of Boulder, Colo. and Christopher Meislahn (Katie) of Albany; as well as her young grandsons, Jake Killian, Andrew Killian and Bodhi Dennis. A lively, positive woman, Merri's laughter will ring in our hearts and her spirit will keep us warm forever. The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at St. Peter's Hospital and their Hospice Inn as well as NYOH for their skill and care which gave Merri a treasured period of vital activity. The family would also like to thank their generous friends for their continual love and support during this difficult time. A service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, March 20 at 11:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Albany, State and Willet streets, under the direction of the Tebbutt Funeral Home. A reception will follow at the Fort Orange Club, 110 Washington Avenue, Albany. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Habitat for Humanity (www. capitaldistrict-habitat.org), Equinox ( www.-equinoxinc.org), Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood (planned-parenthood.org/uhpp) or the charity of your choice.