Patricia E. Becker

Patricia E. Becker, 75, of Amsterdam died Thursday at her home with her family at her side.

She was the daughter of the late Robert H. and Emily Swinton of Whitehall, NY.

Pat was a graduate of Whitehall (NY) Central School and the Crane School of Music at SUNY College at Potsdam.

Music was an important part of Pat’s life. She was a fine flutist and played other instruments as well. She was a choir director at the Amsterdam United Methodist Church and a member of the Mohawk Valley Chorus. She was a music teacher at Mayfield (NY) Central School and St. Stanislaus School in Amsterdam and taught private instrumental music lessons for many years.

Pat and her husband John baked for farmers markets and raised goats and chickens. Pat successfully applied for a grant from New York State to restore her family’s 19th-century barn in Whitehall.

Pat is survived by her husband of 54 years, John Becker of Amsterdam; her sons, Timothy Becker (Lisa) of Amsterdam and Nathaniel Becker (Tara) of Arlington, Virginia.; her daughter, Jennifer Phelps (Robert Roberts) of Whitehall; her grandchildren, Samuel, Benjamin, Zachary and James Becker of Amsterdam, Evelyn Phelps of Amsterdam and Madelyn Phelps of Burnt Hills; her sisters, Lois Cosentino (Ralph) of Palm Harbor, Florida; Leah Mason (Bruce) of Fort Ann and Melanie La Rose (Ronald) of Higganum, Connecticut; her brothers, Robert Timothy Swinton (Diana) of New Port Richey. Florida; and David Swinton (Deborah) of Lebanon, Pennsylvania; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

A calling hour will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 10, at the Amsterdam Methodist Church, 347 Golf Course Road, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. officiated by Rev. Olga Gonzalez. An informal gathering will take place at the church after the service.

Arrangements are by Betz, Rossi and Bellinger Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam.

Pat will be laid to rest in Whitehall, NY at a future date to be determined.

In lieu of traditional floral arrangements, the family would greatly appreciate flowers or plants that can be planted outside, to be enjoyed for many seasons to come. By choosing a gift that grows, you are helping us create a living tribute—one that will bloom and flourish each year as a beautiful reminder of the love we all shared.