Published 01/03/02

Plattsburgh — Helen O’Connell, 67, of Plattsburgh, died Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Plattsburgh on May 3, 1934, the daughter of F. Claude and Helen (O’Meara) O’Connell.

She graduated from St. John’s Academy and was a graduate of Russell Sage College with a B.A. in Psychology and a Masters degree in Elementary Education.

She taught at Chazy Central Rural School and then for over 30 years at Cumberland Head Elementary School.

She was the owner of About Town Pet Sitters. She loved her Yorkshire Terrier "Peanut" also loved her cats, her friends and Bill Clinton. She was a lifelong member of the Democratic Party.

She was an avid football fan and especially a New York Jets fan.

She is survived by a sister-in- law, Shirley O’Connell of Plattsburgh; a brother-in-law, Bill Frandino; and her nieces and nephews, Lori Frandino, J. Byron O’Connell Jr., Cindy O’Connell, Michael O’Connell, Tracey O’Connell, Kathleen O’Connell, Helen O’Connell and Eric O’Connell.

Her parents; her sister, Mary Allen; and a brother, J. Byron O’Connell died before her.

There will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at noon Thursday from St. Peter’s Church in Plattsburgh. Following the service, there will be a reception at the home of Shirley O’Connell at 50 Cumberland Ave. in Plattsburgh.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the Diabetes Foundation or the Humane Society.

The O’Neill - Redden - Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh is in charge of arrangements.

JAY — John Louis Wirt, 73, of Route 86, died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, at his home in Jay.

He was born Nov. 27, 1928, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of William and Clara (Christen) Wirt.

John was a disabled veteran serving with the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He was a truck driver for Maislin Transport & Yellow Freight Co. and retired in 1991.

His favorite pastime was working on vehicles and enjoyed family gatherings.

John is survived by four daughters and four sons, Helen Wirt of Jay, Richard and Selinda Aubin of Gansevoort, Robert and JoAnne Aubin of AuSable Forks, Michael and Gail Mero of Arlington, Vt., Paul and Cheryl Aubin of AuSable Forks, Val and Elliot Hurwitz of Adrian, Mich., Janet and David Morgan of Jay and Gary and Lucy Ferguson of Florida; a brother, Robert Wirt of Pico Rivera, Calif.; 17 grandchildren; and 11 great -grandchildren.

His wife, Helen F Aubin died Jan. 24, 1970, and a grandson, Steve Aubin died in 1987.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Zaumetzer - Sprague Funeral Home in AuSable Forks. American Legion Post 504 will hold a prayer service on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date in the family plot in Jay Central Cemetery in Jay.

Memorials to him may be made to the AuSable Forks Volunteer Ambulance Service or a charity of your choice.

Mooers — Charles L. "Charlie" O’Brian, 72, of Mooers, died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

He was born in St. Johnsville, N.Y., on June 29, 1929, the son of Leon Charles and Minnie (Fessette) O’Brian.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

He was employed by the Village of Rouses Point for many years.

He was a charter member of the Northern Sams Camping Club and had been instrumental in it’s formation. He was also a past member of the Rouses Point Fire Department and a member of the American Legion.

He is survived by his daughter, Sally Walker of Mooers; two grandsons, Jeremy of Mooers and SSGT Jamie Walker and wife, Ann of Harrington, Del., stationed at Dover Air Force Base; along with two great granddaughters, Janessa and Barbara of Harrington, Del.; a sister, Marion Anctil of Rouses Point; and a brother, James O’Brian of Dannemora; along with several sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; and nieces and nephews.

His wife, Barbara O’Brian died in 1997. Two brothers, John and Alfred also died earlier.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Mooers. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday from the funeral home chapel. Interment will be in Union Cemetery in Mooers Forks in the spring.

Memorial donations may be made to the Mooers Rescue Squad.

LAKE PLACID — Matthew E. Olson, 27, of School Street in Lake Placid, died suddenly at his home Jan. 1, 2002.

He was born in Newport Beach, Calif., on Jan. 30, 1974, the son of John F. and Elizabeth (Callaro) Olson.

Matt worked for the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation as manager of the campgrounds at Buck Pond and Wilmington Notch. During the winter months he was employed at Cascade Acres in Lake Placid.

He grew up in Chevy Chase, Md., attended Concord Hill School, McLean School and boarded at Forman School in Litchfield, Conn., for three years.

While attending Litchfield School he was treasurer of the student body and enjoyed playing Lacrosse and soccer.

He attended Paul Smith’s College for one year, and graduated from North Country Community College with an AS Degree in forest management.

Matt was a camp counselor teaching wilderness skills and rock climbing at Camp Wachusett in Brandon, Vt.

He was a member of the Lake Placid Vol. Fire Dept. and the Lake Placid Vol. Ambulance Service.

Matthew is survived by his wife Leigh Ann (Sipos) Olson; two sons, Hunter Dylan Michael Olson and Jonathan Leslie Olson all of Lake Placid. He is also survived by his father and mother of Chevy Chase, Md.; three brothers, Timothy of So. Royalton, Vt., Peter of Los Angeles, Calif., and Nicholas of Chevy Chase, Md.; and one sister, Emily of New York City. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held Friday, Jan. 4, 2002, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home in Lake Placid. The Lake Placid Vol. Ambulance Service will hold a prayer service at 7 p.m. at the funeral home followed by a Fire Dept. Prayer Service at 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at the Adirondack Community Church. Rev. Mark Demers, pastor, and Rev. William Neil, pastor of the United Methodist Church in Saranac Lake, will officiate. Burial will be in the Druid Ridge Cemetery in Baltimore, Md.

Donations in Matt’s memory may be made to the Lake Placid Vol. Fire Dept. or the Lake Placid Vol. Ambulance Service.

PLATTSBURGH — Rev. W. Coburn Sweet Jr., 96, formerly of Tremblay Avenue, died Friday evening, Dec. 28, 2001, at Cedar Hedge Nursing Home.

He was born in Trenton, N.J., on April 9, 1905, the son of W. Coburn and Lillian (Cubberly) Sweet Sr.

Rev. Sweet was a retired Presbyterian minister and a member of the Presbytery of Northern New York until his death.

He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1927, Duquesne University Law School in 1930 and Western Theological Seminary in 1934.

Rev. Sweet married the former Nancy McIlwain at the Castle Shannon Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania in 1934. She predeceased him in 1988.

He practiced law in Pennsylvania for 20 years. Rev. Sweet subsequently taught in public schools and colleges and after entering the ministry, served pastorates in Pennsylvania (where he was Moderator of the Presbytery of New Castle), Ohio and New York.

Rev. Sweet was pastor of the Chazy Presbyterian Church from 1960 to 1963 and also taught History and English at Miner Institute in Chazy. He served as assistant pastor at the Plattsburgh United Methodist Church.

After retiring from active ministry in 1965, Rev. Sweet served for 10 years as the curator of the Alice T. Miner Museum in Chazy.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. George (Constance) Slosson of W. Chazy and Mrs. David (Prudence) Withall of Wheaton, Ill.; six grandchildren, Deborah (Slosson) Tilmont and Sharon (Slosson) Bucks of California, Alexander and Andrew Withall of Illinois, Barbara (Slosson) Boulerice and Ronald Slosson of New York. He is also survived by 3 great - grandchildren; and several nephews.

Calling hours will be held Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the R. W. Walker Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at the R. W. Walker Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery in Chazy.

In lieu of flowers, memorials maybe given to Cedar Hedge Nursing Home in Rouses Point, or to the charity of your choice.

ALBERT E. CHEW, 73, of Belmar, N.J., died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001, at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune N.J., after a short illness.

He was born in Riverside, N.J.

Funeral arrangements were made by Daniel Reilly Funeral Home in Belmar. Burial services were held at Monmouth Memorial Park.

Bruce E. Szalkowski, 56, of Smithtown and formerly of Morrisonville, passed away Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001, at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown, N.Y.

He was born in Queens, N.Y., on Nov. 10, 1945, son of Anna (Luttenberger) and the late Edward C. Szalkowski.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Alexander’s Church in Morrisonville, N.Y., on Friday morning, Jan. 4, 2002, at 11 a.m. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements were with Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Kathryn L. Whitman, 75, of Winthrop, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, at her sister’s home, Carolyn White, in Canton.

She was born or Oct. 28, 1926, in the Town of Stockholm, daughter of the late Royal J. and Leila D. (Morrow) Searles.

Funeral services for will be held Friday morning at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church in Brasher Falls, with Rev. Clark White officiating. Friends may call at the Hammill Funeral Home in Winthrop on Thursday from to 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Brasher Falls.