Louise Rhinehart

Life becomes so much better when we sweep a little sunshine into the dark corners and that is exactly what Louise Rhinehart succeeded in doing from her first day on March 31, 1938 and every single day after, until finding her eternal peace on Friday, January 29, 2021, when she was embraced by her angels in Heaven, who include her parents, her first husband Richard Bailey and her beloved son Sean Bailey and many others.

It has been said that anyone can be a mother, but it takes a very, very beautiful woman to be a mom. And that name is given to the most loving, generous and nurturing of women.  Never a day passed that Louise wasn’t busily and happily bustling around home, taking care of the day-to-day needs and cooking and baking something spectacular for her family to enjoy.  Music filled the air too, as she hummed away the hours and sang so beautifully, just as she had since High School Choir. Also, in her youth she lived on the St. Lawrence River and remained an amazing navigator of the river.

Louise enjoyed every moment together with her family, raising her children, then babysitting the grandchildren and many others through the years.  She loved decorating the house too, nary a corner or wall was safe from her embellishments and “foo foo,” attributing to the warmest, most welcoming home you could ever imagine.  And one of the cleanest too, for you see, along with her passion for homemaking, Louise rivaled Mr. Clean in the duties of sanitation.  She was the self-proclaimed “Clorox Queen” and bleach was as intoxicating an aroma to her as the fresh flowers in her gardens and the perfectly landscaped lawns.  She even insisted that her cremains will be inurned in her beloved Clorox bottle!

It has also been said that marriage takes two and it is a truly blessed union when those two share such strong bonds of devotion and love that they are synonymous with one another.  Louise found her “Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Love” in Carl, her best friend, confidant and lover.  The same passion for life also fueled her passion for him and, like big kids at heart, they never missed a chance to kiss and sneak a squeeze of each other, to many of their family’s loving embarrassment.  You knew instantly in their presence that they were and always will be soulmates. 

1 Corinthians tells that Faith, Hope and Love remain and the greatest of these is Love. Louise’s love and her faith, her beautiful smile, infectious laughter and beautifully twisted humor will live on forever with her beloved husband: Carl Rhinehart of Fultonham; her children: Richard Bailey of Schoharie, Cindy (John) McCullough of Howes Cave, Laurie (Thomas) Fogel of Seward, Colleen Bailey (David Schleede) of Kingston, Eugene Bailey of Fairport; her step-children: Lisa (Richard) Stanton of Schoharie, Jennifer (William) Hahn of Esperance, Karen Rhinehart (Peter Pesta) of Fultonham; her 9 grandchildren and 4 step-grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren and many other extended family members and friends through her membership in the Middleburgh Golden Age Club, her church family at the Fultonham Union Church and her colleagues at Middleburgh Central School from when she worked as a classroom monitor.

While no formal services will be held, Louise’s family thank you for remembering her and them through this time.  Coltrain Funeral Home, LLC., of Middleburgh is honored to be caring for Louise and her family.

Memorials in Louise’s honor are requested to be sent to the Fultonham Union Church, PO Box 98, Fultonham, NY 12071

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