Pamela Joni Relyea

Pamela Joni Relyea, 71, beloved wife of Kenneth Relyea and mother of Richard Capeless IV, passed away at her home on Monday afternoon, August 14, with her family by her side after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Pamela, the daughter of Peter and Dorothy Mankes, was born on October 5, 1951 in Schenectady, New York. She graduated from Mohonasen High School in 1969 where she was cheerleading captain. A staple employee of Flavorland in Rotterdam early on in life, Pamela then worked for the New York State Department of Social Services for 35 years. She began as an entry level clerk, was continually promoted, and at retirement was supervising over 40 staff. She met her husband, Ken, in 1985 and they married in 2001. Pamela retired from the New York State Council on Children and Families in 2007 and she and Ken soon began living in Alva, Florida during the winter months.

Pamela loved to cook, and her dishes were loved by all her family. She loved to travel and visited many places with Ken including England, Ireland, Norway, Italy, Spain, France, and Greece. She took great pride in her home and enjoyed the many remodeling projects she undertook over the years. Like her mother, Dorothy, she had a passion for betting the horses, watching the Yankees, and gardening. She took a leadership role in the Alva Garden Club and also enjoyed volunteering at the Alva Museum. Along with Ken, Pamela was an avid pet owner, and the couple has cared for many rescued cats and dogs in their life together.

Pamela’s son has fond memories of her playing Christmas carols on the piano and baking a superhuman number of cookies at Christmastime, taking his sister and him to Cape Cod, Disney World, and Ocean City for vacations, baking ice cream cone cupcakes for every birthday, and laughing out loud while watching her favorite movies on T.V. in the kitchen.

Pamela is also survived by her beloved sisters, Jamie Guidarelli and Barbara Sacchi; her goddaughter, Deanne Newman and her children, Anna and Ryan Newman; her cousin, Barbara “Toodles” Bailey and her children, Kevin and Christine Bailey; nieces Jill Shirkey, Laurie Micare, Cristal Slater, Rachel Maynard, and Heather Zade. Pamela is predeceased by her cousin, Deborah Tedesco, and her daughter, Renee Elizabeth Capeless, both of whom she loved with all her heart and kept in her thoughts every day.

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to, Animal Refuge Center, 18011 Old Bayshore Rd., North Fort Myers, FL  33917.

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