Esq. Jana S. Behe-Kinneston

Little Falls/Menands, NY-Jana S. Behe-Kinneston, Esq., 40, of Menands, a Little Falls native and prominent Albany-area attorney, died of natural causes suddenly on Saturday, August 20, 2017, while golfing with her husband, Joshua Kinneston.   Jana, the beloved daughter of Ronald C. and Marilyn P. (Payne) Behe, was born on May 16, 1977 in Sodus, NY.  She received her education in Little Falls schools graduating with the Little Falls High School "Class of 1995".  Jana excelled in sports, especially field hockey, and gained the friendship of many throughout her Little Falls education.  On August 31, 2013 she married Joshua Kinneston in Albany.  Jana served as Secretary of the New York State Technology Enterprise Corporation (NYSTEC) and its Director of Contracts/General Counsel. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rochester, with honors, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She was admitted to practice law in New York and Pennsylvania. Jana was Chair Elect and an Executive Committee member of the NYS Bar Association's Corporate Counsel Section, Corporate Counsel Section Delegate to the NYSBA House of Delegates (2014-2017), involved with the Kenneth G. Standard Diversity Internship program, a co-chair of the NYS Forum IT Procurement Work Group, a member of the Executive Women’s Golf Association of the Albany/Capital Region, and on the Board of Advisors for the Capital District YMCA (Board Chair 2014-2017). Jana was committed to establishing and supporting corporate and community partnerships and collaborations between those with much to give and those with great needs. As an honest, generous and direct person, her wisdom, common sense, and selflessness marked her relationships, and everyone loved and depended on her for them. She loved playing golf, camping, and any time she could spend making memories with her family and friends. Survivors include her beloved husband, Josh; her devoted parents Ron and Marilyn Behe of Little Falls; parents-in-law William and Susan Sweeney of Menands; her precious baby sisters, Leah and her partner Jason Odom of Voorheesville and Carla and her husband Sean Pollard of Ilion; cherished niece and nephew, Callie and Lincoln; aunts and uncles, David and Karen Payne of Penn Yan, NY, Ernest and Judith Getto of Sun Valley, ID, William and Lisa Payne of Wayne, PA and Steven and Sherry Behe of Oxford, NY; cousins Michael, Missy, Stephen, and Jennifer, Susan and Justin, Matthew, Jennifer, Christopher, Mary, Sarah, Jonathan, Elisa, Scott and Cindy, Stefanie and Thomas; step-brothers Bill, John and Ted Sweeney and their families, and her beloved dog Bert. Also surviving are many friends, colleagues, teammates and associates.  Jana was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Judson and Beverly Behe and maternal grandparents Harold and Margaret Payne. Visiting hours will be held at DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home, 5216 Western Turnpike (Route 20), Guilderland, NY  12084 on Thursday, August 24 from 3-7 p.m.  A celebration of Jana’s life will be held at the Shaker Ridge Country Club, 802 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211 on Friday, August 25 from 11:30 am-2:30 pm, for sharing the joy that Jana brought to the world.  Interment will be private and at the convenience of her family.  The family would like to especially thank Jana’s colleagues at NYSTEC for their compassion and support, and is grateful to the staff of Capital Hills at Albany Golf Course for their immediate and considerate response.  Donations in Jana’s memory and spirit would be appreciated by the Capital District YMCA, in care of Daniel J. Enea Funeral & Cremation Care, 5860 NY-5 (near St. Mary's Cemetery), Herkimer, 315-508-5250, which has been entrusted with Jana's funeral arrangements.  To offer an online note of condolence or add to Jana's online tribute, click to the left.