Obituary of Rebecca Lynn VanAlstyne

On Thursday June 23rd, 2022 the soul of Rebecca Lynn VanAlstyne passed beyond this world. She was a rock for her family and friends. Her unexpected passing leaves behind heartbreak in the many lives she touched. Rebecca, known as Becky to those she loved, was a talented, selfless, generous and kind soul. Growing up, Becky attended Shalmont High School with her brother and sister. She went on to graduate from Buffalo State with a degree in drafting and used her knowledge as a senior mechanical design engineer for over 30 years at MTI in Albany, New York. She took pride in her work and was both a highly valued friend and coworker there. Her talents extended far beyond the three dimensional drafting she did at work. She is best known by some for her skillful basket making. Those lucky enough to own a "Becky Basket" may have a rare Ash Nantucket, pack-basket, Native American style or an original Becky design. Rebecca was a devoted wife, mother, sister and daughter. She spent much of her life doing things for others while never asking for anything in return. In September of 1985 she married her best friend Peter VanAlstyne. They went on to have three children and a life full of happy moments. Her hands were never idle. In winter, they were giving support to those she taught to ski or passing around hot cocoa after a Christmas Eve walk in the snow. In the spring, they'd be perched atop the handlebars of her bicycle or busy making her famous lasagna in the kitchen. In the summer they'd be covered with sweat and dirt from working in one of her many gardens or holding on to her husband on the back of his motorcycle. In fall, she'd be building leaf piles for her children to jump into or creating epic music playlists for dance parties in the living room. She loved her husband, children and grandchildren ferociously, with pride and with her whole heart. Family was the most important part of her life and she always chose to put their needs above all else. She had a courageous spirit and was always ready for a new adventure. She planned to spend her future days teaching her grandchildren that important lesson. Her most common phrase in the past few months was, "I just love those grandbabies!" She wanted to show them all the things she did with her own children – playing in her gardens, teaching the art of crafts, cooking holiday Italian classics, hiking through the woods, and exploring beloved vacation spots like Gloucester, the Adirondacks and Acadia. Rebecca is survived by her husband Peter VanAlstyne, her three children Carolyn Mann, Jill Papaleo and Benjamin VanAlstyne, and her three beloved grandchildren Nellie Papaleo, Ava Papaleo and Greyson Mann. She also leaves behind her sister Shelley Trepess, brother Kenneth Kieft and father-in-law Richard VanAlstyne. A Celebration of Life service will take place on September 17th in her gardens starting at 2 in the afternoon for all friends and family of Becky. Please contact one of her children for location and details. Arrangements are under the direction of the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Valatie NY.