Priscilla Lynn Ulbrich Scaife

With deep love and gratitude for a life well lived, we announce the passing of Priscilla Lynn Ulbrich Scaife, 82, of Lyndonville, VT, a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. A long-time resident of Schenectady and Albany, NY, Priscilla passed peacefully at home, embarking on the greatest adventure of her life, meeting the King of Kings face-to-face on February 15, 2025.

Priscilla was born in Flushing, NY, in 1942 to Elsie and A.R. Ulbrich. She spent her high school years in Alden, NY, before attending Cornell University, where she earned her degree in 1964. Just one week after graduating, she married the love of her life, Charles W. J. Scaife, who was serving in the Naval ROTC while completing his Ph.D. in Chemistry at Cornell. Together, they embarked on a beautiful journey of faith, family, and service.

Priscilla worked in a laboratory at Cornell University before moving with Charlie to York, England, during his post-doctoral fellowship. While there, they welcomed their first daughter, Rebecca Scaife (Sanders). Their journey continued to Middlebury, Vermont, where Charles began his professorship, and where their second daughter, Jennifer Lynn Scaife (Craig), was born. In 1972, the family settled in Schenectady, NY, where Priscilla dedicated herself to her faith, family, and community for over three decades.

A woman of deep Christian faith, Priscilla was a devoted member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, where she led Bible studies, Young Moms’ groups, and warmly opened her home to all, including Union College students from Charles’ classroom. Later, she and Charles worked side by side in their K.I.D.S. (Kids Involved Doing Science) program, traveling across the United States and overseas to inspire young minds with “kitchen chemistry.”

Priscilla was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles, in 2003. She continued to enjoy her friends and family, travel, spend time at her family cabin in Pennsylvania, and serve her church from her apartment in Albany, NY, and then moved in with Rebecca in 2023. She is survived by her two daughters, Rebecca (Jim Sanders) and Jennifer (Ken Craig), as well as her cherished grandchildren: Jimmy (Sarah), Joy (Andrew Leon), Jonathan (Mikayla), Emily, Joshua, Carly, Meskie, Brodie, and Darby. She was also blessed with nine great-grandchildren: Olivia, Jeffrey, Nika, Kylie, Eva, Talia, Lily, Micah, and Gideon.

Priscilla’s life was a testament to love, faith, and the joy of serving others. While we mourn her passing, we rejoice in the knowledge that she is reunited with Charles and resting in God’s eternal grace.

A service to celebrate Priscilla’s life will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 69 Mountain View Avenue, Albany, NY 12205 on Thursday, February 20th at 10:00 am, luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Our Savior’s Christian School, 63 Mountain View Avenue, Albany NY 12205 or Koinonia Primary Care, Inc., 553 Clifton Avenue, Albany, NY 12206.