On social media Jan. 28 local activist Dan Udell announced, "the passing of our dearest Mary Elizabeth Udell on Friday, January 26, 2024. She died peacefully among her family." The couple have been active community members in the Hudson Valley since moving to Taghkanic in 2002. A few year later the couple launched Hudson Reads, a program where volunteers read to middle school children who need extra tutoring, and the Video Generation Club, where they trained young people to record community meetings and events on video. The Udells worked with WGXC to get the recordings of local town meetings and community events on the radio. Mary Udell also volunteered with Black Arts and Culture Festival every year, operating a exhibition tent for visual artists and published a yearly guide book of summer activities for low income youth, "Hudson is a Summer Festival." There was no announcement about any services.