Obituary: Madeline M. Rapant

Madeline was born on April 15, 1935, in West Pawlet Vermont to the late Joseph and Anna Mestyan and was a proud graduate of Granville High School, where she met with her fellow classmates at their annual high school reunions until just a few years ago. She later worked at Guilderland High School as an interpreter for the deaf while attending Schenectady County Community College where she earned an Associate’s Degree.

Madeline married the love of her life, Robert “Bob”, on June 20, 1959; a love story 65 years in the making. After travelling the world together, from California and Wyoming to Saudi Arabia and Beirut, they finally settled down in their lake house on Duane Lake in Duanesburg. It was in this home where they raised their two children, Kimberly and Robert Jr., whom Madeline held in the highest regard and loved fiercely. It was in this same house where Bob and Madeline cherished decades of memories with their countless friends and family, especially their three beloved grandchildren, Hayden, Samantha, and Harrison.

Madeline lived an active lifestyle and loved to swim, ski, and play tennis with friends. When she wasn’t outdoors, she was attending a matinee at Proctors or going “all-in” on poker nights with her poker group. She and Bob spent many summers at their cottage in Wellfleet on Cape Cod, and the two regularly travelled to their camp on Goodnow Flow in Newcomb, NY; the heart of the Adirondacks.

In addition to her parents, Madeline was predeceased by her brothers Julius Mestyan and Joseph Mestyan and sisters, Anne Thomas, Mary Pacyna, and Betty Grevolosky.

Survivors include her devoted husband Bob, loving daughter Kimberly LaBelle (Thomas) of Duanesburg, her adored son Robert Rapant Jr. of Harvard, Massachusetts, her beloved grandchildren Hayden LaBelle (Olivia) of Ballston Spa, Samantha Rapant of Colorado, and Harrison Rapant (Shelby) of North Carolina. Madeline was blessed with a loving extended family.