Saratoga Springs, NY - Our beloved Auleen M. Palmer passed away at the age of 96, on Saturday (April 18, 2009) at the Wilton Meadows nursing home in Connecticut. Auleen was born in Massena, NY on Aug. 13, 1912, moved to Saratoga Springs in 1935 and had been a long time and well respected resident. She was the daughter of the late Fred and Elva Murphy of Massena. Auleen was first married to the late Gordon L. Spaulding who was born in Saratoga Springs and with whom she bore two children, her devoted daughter, Sister Loreen (Loralee) Spaulding and her loving son, Thomas J. Spaulding Sr. Auleen was a legal secretary and a real estate broker in Saratoga Springs for over forty years. She was a horse owner and track enthusiast and a member of the Old Timers Club at Saratoga Raceway. Allie, as she was often called, was active in the Legal Secretaries Society of Saratoga Springs where she provided the newspaper. In her younger years she was a beauty contest winner and her vibrant smile was sometimes seen placing wreathes on horses in the winners' circle at the track. She also performed many civic contributions to Saratoga Springs such as the Teen Center at the original Convention Hall and the Happy Hour Club for young adults. As a member of the Catholic Church, Auleen was a communicant of St. Clements Parish, where her two children attended school and were taught by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, of which Sister Loreen is now a member. Auleen was a member of Court McLaughlin 422 Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She was predeceased in death by her husband, Charles Edwards and then Saratoga Springs native Earl Palmer, as well as her brothers, Carl J. Murphy and Oral J.(Buck) Murphy of Massena and many relatives and dear friends, including Gordon (Bunny) Spaulding, Auleen never lost her ability to make friends or to love those with whom she shared life. Survivors include Sister Loreen and Thomas J. Spaulding, Sr. and Toms wife, Andrea and step-son, Ross Trelford; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, Lisa Marie, her husband Edward and their son Liam Ryan Kevins of Warwick, NY, Thomas J. Spaulding, Jr. and his wife, Jill and Anthony, Caroline and Thomas James Spaulding, III of Colorado, Michele Joy Kelly and her husband Francis and their sons Francis J. Kevins, IV and Nolan Spaulding Kelly of Colorado. She is also remembered warmly and mourned by her cousins, Beulah Hanson of Canastota and Norval Bennett of Norfolk. Aunt Auleen will be especially missed by her nephews and nieces and their families, Col. Patrick J. Murphy (Ret.) and his wife Willa of Massena, Timothy and Patricia Murphy of Peekskill, Carol Brashaw of Watertown and Cindy Winton of Massena. To family, friends, Sisters, all those whose presence, music, humor, concern and kind and competent care have supported and delighted Auleen Palmer all these years, her family is very grateful. In particular, we wish to commend and thank all those at Fort Hudson Nursing Home and at Wilton Meadows Health Care Center and health care providers who have served well a good woman. God Bless you. Relatives and friends may call from 5 to 7pm Thursday at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway (584-5373). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am Friday in St. Clement's Church, 231 Lake Ave. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, West Ave. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to the School Sisters of Notre Dame, 345 Belden Hill Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 or a charity of your choice.