Aileen M. Flach

Castleton- Aileen M. Flach

August 8, 1972-October 20, 2025

As those who know me would expect, I have chosen to write my own obituary-my story, in my own words.

I was born on August 8, 1972, to Robert and Marcia Ducato and grew up in Westfield, N.Y., a picturesque town on Lake Erie. After graduating from Westfield in 1990, I attended SUNY Cortland, where I fell in love with athletics-especially women's rugby-fitness, and leadership, earning my B.S. in Physical Education and Adult Fitness. There, I formed friendships that became sisterhoods, and I met Kolby, my husband and life's truest partner.

I went on to earn my master's degree at Sage Graduate School and began my career at the ARC of Rensselaer County. In those years, I discovered my passion for leadership and Human Resources, guided by mentors who helped shape my path. Kolby and I married on a snowy, cozy December night in 2001, and in the years soon after, we welcomed our two beautiful boys, Landon and Luca. Nothing brought me more joy than family life in our small town-especially cheering on the sidelines at Maple Hill soccer games on crisp autumn days.

In 2012, I became Vice President of Human Resources at DeCrescente Distributing Company. There, I found not only fulfilling work but a second family-loyal friends and colleagues who gave me the chance to do meaningful work every day.

In 2021, I was diagnosed with aggressive soft-tissue sarcoma. Though the disease ultimately defined my final years, it also revealed extraordinary love and strength all around me. I will forever be grateful to my medical teams at Albany Med, Dana Farber, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, New York Oncology and Hematology, and many others, as well as to the countless friends and family who walked each step beside me. The Flach's will forever be grateful for the kindness, generosity and compassion of the DeCrescente family and organization as well.

My wish is that no traditional funeral be held; instead, please gather to celebrate the life I was blessed and overjoyed to live. In lieu of flowers, I encourage donations to SarcomaStrong.com, The ARC of Rensselaer County-two causes close to my heart, or to the charitable organization of your choice.

When you think of me, let it be at a big Italian meal, on a warm and sunny beach, at a live music show, on a shopping trip, or beside a backyard fire under the stars, listening to the music you grew up on. That's where you'll find me.

Please join us in celebrating Aileen's beautiful life on Saturday, November 1, 2025 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. at Ryan's Wake, 403 River St. Troy, NY 12180.