Rita L. Drew

Glenville, NY – Rita L. Drew, 84, a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, favorite school and home studio music teacher and church choir director, passed peacefully November 9, 2026 at Kingsway Community, Schenectady, with family close by.

She was the daughter of George and Marion Legenbauer of East Poestenkill, NY, and was born on May 6, 1942. She graduated from Averill Park CSD in 1960, attended the Crane School of Music, State University of New York, Potsdam, NY and graduated with a BS and MS in Music Education in 1964 and 1970, respectively. While at college she met the love of her life, Darryl D. Drew, and they were married on April 10, 1965. The couple enjoyed a wonderful life of 61-1/2 years together, during which time they raised two wonderful children, Laurinda Halliday and Dennis Drew.

Rita was a teacher in both the classroom and in her private voice/piano studio, surrounding her life with the beauty of music, sacred and secular. Her career in music education took her to Argyle CSD, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake CSD (Pashley Elementary), Scotia-Glenville CSD (Glen Worden and Glendale Elementary), and Schenectady CSD (Paige Elementary School).

She cherished her family to the ultimate level, loving every moment of any visit. Rita not only loved music, but also gardening, coloring, watching the birds and reading her Bible. She served the Lord in the music ministry throughout her life. 

Her music ministry, partnered with her husband, included Faith Baptist Church, Rexford, Sacandaga Bible Conference, Broadalbin, and First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa. She served as choir director and solo vocalist as well as co-composer with her husband of the Easter Cantata, “Footprints of Jesus."

Rita is survived by her husband, Darryl D. Drew, her daughter, Laurinda (Scott) Halliday, and their children, Brian M. Halliday and Jennifer E. Halliday, all living in the Capital District, her son Dennis (Karen Saludo) Drew, and their son Leo M. Drew, living in Rochester, NY., her brother, David (Kristine) Legenbauer of Dennis, MA. She is also survived by nieces and several cousins.

Family and friends are invited to visit the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, 202 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 from 4:00-7:00 PM on Monday, November 16, 2026.

The Funeral service will also be at the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa 10:30 am on Tuesday, November 17, 2026. Interment will be held at the Brookside Cemetery in Poestenkill, NY at 2:30pm.

Funeral arrangements under direction of the Perry-Komdat Funeral Chapel, Averill Park, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to City Mission of Schenectady, PO Box 760, Schenectady, NY, 12301, in memory of Rita Drew.

Visit www.perrykomdat.com for directions and a guestbook.