Obituary of Ralph J Polera

Ralph J. Polera, 80, passed away on December 2, 2016. He was born in Utica, the son of the late Peter and Helen (Kielijan) Polera. Ralph graduated from UFA, attended Clarkson University and served in the US Army. On November 30, 1957, he was united in marriage to Marie Ritz. Ralph worked at Oneida National Bank for many years and retired from Community Bank where he was a Senior Vice President. He loved sports and was an avid golfer at Valley View Golf Club and enjoyed bowling. In his younger years he was a referee for youth baseball and basketball and an umpire for the municipal softball league. He is survived by his devoted wife, Marie; his son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Debbie (Lubey-Becker) Polera of Marcy; daughter Pamela Chase of New Hampshire; grandchildren, Stephen and wife Deanna, Joshua, Benjamin, Brittany and Nicole; two great-grandchildren Zoe and Maxon; many cousins; brothers-in-law and their wives, Joe and Dale Ritz of SC, Donald and Marilyn Ritz of NV and Robert and Joan Ritz of FL; and one living aunt, Lucretia Carlo. He was predeceased by his parents Peter and Helen, his aunt Mary Wojciechowski, in-laws, Joseph and Jean Ritz, sister-in-law, Bonnie Ritz and brother-in-law, Anthony Ritz. All are invited to call Monday, December 5, 2016 from 4-7pm at Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, Inc., 35 College St, Clinton, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 9:30am at Church of the Annunciation, Clark Mills. Burial will be in St. Agnes Cemetery in Utica. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Alzheimer's Association. The family thanks the nurses and staff of the 3rd floor at Utica Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for the wonderful care given to Ralph at the end of his life.