Saratoga Springs, NY - Frances Genevieve (Arpey) Mersky, beloved mother, grandmother and sister, passed away peacefully on Wednesday January 19, 2011, surrounded by her family and received into the loving arms of her mother, Genevieve (Levo) Arpey. She died at Samaritan Hospital in Troy NY from complications of Alzheimers disease. She was 82. Frances lived nearly all her life in Saratoga and had strong roots on the city's west side, where she was born on March 20, 1928 into a large extended family. She had been cared for at the Van Rensselaer Manor, Troy NY since July 2008. Frances attended elementary and high school in Saratoga Springs. She had an outgoing personality and enjoyed working with the public as a friendly and expert waitress. She was well known by local diners and summer visitors who frequented Saratogas casual and fine dining spots, most notably at Mother Goldsmiths, the Wishing Well Restaurant, the Trade Winds, and Pennells Restaurant. In her later years, Frances worked at the Saratoga Spa State Golf Course on South Broadway. Frances was an avid reader and lifelong patron of the Saratoga Springs Public Library where she was known to staff for her weekly visits over many years. She passed on her love of reading to her children and grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, Frank A. Arpey, Sr. and Genevieve "Jennie" (Levo) Arpey; one brother, Vincent Arpey; two husbands, Allen G. Roberts and Arthur Mersky and her son, Allen J. Roberts. Survivors include one sibling, Frank Arpey Jr. and a sister-in-law, Alma Arpey, both of Saratoga Springs; four daughters and sons-in-law: Stephanie and Stephen Zabala of Greenfield Center, NY, Cassandra and Robert Marrone of Sutton, MA, Frances and Paul Smith of Louisville, KY and Leslie and Skip Allen of Ballston Spa, NY. Frances was very proud of her 13 grandchildren: Jennifer Comstock, Melissa Gorton, Geoffrey Roberts, Jamie McDonnell, Michelle Gregory, Stephen A. Zabala, Edward Marrone, Philip Marrone, Sarah Matusek, Matthew Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Rachel Roberts and Randee Allen and her 14 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her niece, Jenny Arpey Sims, her nephews Vince Arpey Jr., Frank Arpey and Andrew Arpey; one aunt, Rose Arpey-Draves and many loving and supportive cousins in the Saratoga Springs area. Relatives and friends may call from 6 to 8pm Friday January 21, 2011 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs (584-5373). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30am Saturday January 22, 2011 at St. Clement's Church, 231 Lake Avenue, by the Rev. Neil Draves-Arpaia, the deceaseds cousin. Burial will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery, West Avenue. Memorial donations may be made to the Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs NY 12866-3271, the Alzheimer's Association Northeastern New York Chapter, Pine West Plaza, Building 4, Suite 405, Washington Avenue Ext., Albany, NY 12205 or to Community Hospice, 295 Valley View Blvd, Rensselaer NY 12144. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.