Saratoga Springs, NY - Bertha Irene (Clark) Whipple, age 73, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2013 surrounded by her loving family at Wesley Health Care Center in Saratoga Springs. Bertha was born in Schuylerville, New York on August 3, 1939 to Frances (Freeman) and Jesse Clark. She attended Saratoga Springs School District and later retired from Skidmore College. On August 19, 1956, Bertha married her beloved husband Frederick John Whipple Sr. in East Rupert, Vermont. They celebrated 42 blessed years of marriage until Fred's death on December 28, 1998. Bertha and Fred are survived by their loving children, Heidi Morgan (Pete Jones), Fred Jr. (Karen Ranberg), Katrina Keech (Alan), Kathy Whipple, Karen Sirchia (Albert), and Stuart Whipple. Bertha loved spending time with her loving grandchildren, Todd, Amanda (Ian Connelly) and Johnathan Hill, Jerod Keech and Jessica (Justin) Senecal, Andrea Whipple, Zach (fiancée Noelle Desormeaux) and Kassandra King, Jesse Thompson, TJ and Derek (Kristen) Sirchia, and Sara Whipple and twelve great grandchildren. Bertha is also survived by her brothers, Charlie, Donny, Porky, Fred, Kenny, Marty, and Dickie Clark and her sisters, Marilyn Bayer, Alice Vidnansky and Marlene Fuller, several nieces and nephews. Bertha was predeceased by siblings Jesse and Joseph Clark, Lauretta and Ruth Dowen, Beverly Martin and Violet Oliver. Also her great grandson Lucas Blais and son-in-law Michael Morgan. Mom enjoyed watching Game Show Network, WWE, New York Mets baseball and Buffalo Bills football on television. She was an avid lighthouse collector and enjoyed doing her Word Search puzzles, going for car rides and going out to eat. Christmas was her and Dad's favorite holiday and the house would always be full of love, laughter and a room full of presents and a surprise visit from Santa Claus to the delight of adults and kids of all ages. We would like to thank the nurses and aides on 5 Springs, Wesley Health Care Center for their tender loving care of our beloved mother. Relatives and friends may call from 4 to 8pm Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunnff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Funeral services will be at 9:30am Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at the funeral home with burial following at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Rd., Schuylerville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Bethesda Episcopal Church Children's Programs, 41 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.