Elvira Vera Basile

November 10, 1918 - December 22, 2013

SCHENECTADY - Elvira 'Vera' Basile, 95, entered peacefully into eternal rest on Sunday, December 22, 2013, surrounded by her adoring family. Vera was born in Schenectady, on November 10, 1918, a daughter of the late Joseph and Lucy Fusco Patriarco. She was a kind and loving caretaker to so many relatives. It seemed as though her job in life was to take care of and help others, it was a job she loved. You could always find her in the kitchen cooking, weather it was making her sauce and rolling meatballs on a Saturday night, or baking her famous tadelle cookies. When you visited Vera you certainly never left her house hungry. She would serve you a banquet weather you were hungry or not with the most delicious Italian food. She was an immaculate house keeper and did laundry with such precession. She always looked so well kept, a hair never out of place. She rarely did things for herself, as she found more joy in doing things for others. Vera was kind and generous beyond words. One activity that she really liked was playing the New York State Lottery Daily Numbers and buying scratch off tickets. If ever she won though, she would share all her winnings. However, Vera's reason for living and main purpose in life was taking care of her three grandchildren whom she loved unconditionally. After the untimely death of her only child Irene in 1982, Vera at 64 years old, without hesitation took on the role of mother to her grandchildren who were merely 9, 7, and 4 years old. She was dedicated and devoted to them until the day she died. They were her joy and her world, and she in turn was theirs. The family would like to thank the nurses and CNA's on the Willow and Birch units at Capital Living and Rehabilitation Center for their exceptional and loving care of Vera. Vera was predeceased by her beloved husband of 52 years, Elmer Basile in 1993; her loving daughter, Irene McCutcheon, on June 16, 1982; siblings, Mary Tanntta, Louise Pedinotti and Anthony Patriarca. She is survived by her grandchildren, whom she cherished so dearly, Kelly Olsen and her husband Jay and Tracey Ingemie and her husband Chris, all of Niskayuna and Jeffrey McCutcheon, of Schenectady; loving, great-grandchildren, Olivia, Gavin and Brady Olsen and Alec and Quinn Ingemie; her devoted sister, Millie Caracciolo, of Schenectady; many nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive. Services will be held on Friday at 8 am from the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, Union at N. Jay Streets and then to St. Anthony's Church, Seward Place, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be con-concelebrated at 9am. Interment will follow in St. Anthony's Cemetery, Glenville. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home on Thursday from 4 to 7 pm. Contributions may be made in Vera's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, 4 Pine West Plaza, Suite 405, Albany, NY 12205.