Saratoga Sheriff: Greenfield woman, 74, killed in Sunday shooting; Claimed accidental, investigation ongoing

Saratoga County Sheriff's car — PHOTOGRAPHER: - -

GREENFIELD — The shooting death Sunday of a 74-year-old woman was reported to investigators as an accident, Saratoga County sheriff’s officials said.

The investigation into her death remained ongoing Tuesday, officials said.

Sheriff’s officials identified the woman as 74-year-old Charlene F. Cuva.

Sheriff’s deputies responded around 7:40 p.m. on Sunday to 157 Howe Road for a report of a woman shot in the head, according to a release from the Sheriff’s Department.

“It was reported that Joseph R. Cuva Sr. had just finished cleaning his 9mm pistol and was loading it when the gun discharged, striking his wife Charlene F. Cuva in the head killing her,” a sheriff’s release reads. “The bullet passed through a wall before striking Mrs. Cuva.

“The investigation into the death is ongoing,” the release reads.

The Sheriff’s Department said it will not be provided further comment until new information is available.

Charlene Cuva was remembered as being an avid reader, author, teacher and creative artist in an obituary posted to Densmore Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Cuva, who was born to James and Eva Staring in 1948 in Cohoes, is a 1967 graduate of Troy High School. In 1967, she was set to become a nun when she met Joseph Cuva on a blind date the day before she was to leave for the convent. The two married that summer and resided in Greenfield for 50 years. The couple were ministers at Harvest Ministries for seven years, according to her obituary. She also helped found the Gateway Church of Corinth, where she served as the church secretary for 20 years.

Cuva is survived by her husband, three children, six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, along with several nieces, nephews and cousins.

According to the obituary the services will be private. Anyone looking to make donations in her name can do so by visiting the following websites www.dementiasociety.org, www.researchautism.org, or www.komen.org for breast cancer research.