Published 3/21/02

Peru — Joseph "Joe" Ondrek, 83, of the Fuller Road, Peru, and Kissimmee, Fla., died Friday, March 15, 2002, at The Palms Nursing Home in Kissimmee, Fla.

He was born in Bayonne. N.J., Sept. 7, 1918, the son of Serphine and Helena (Parisak) Ondrek.

He married Evelyn Noirot and had their only child, Judith.

He worked many jobs until finding his niche in construction, while working on the New York State Thruway and Albany airport. He moved with his jobs, taking him north to a new life.

Joe worked for many years through Local 106 operating engineers in Albany. He worked on the St. Lawrence Seaway project as a master mechanic for Morris and Knudsen Construction and on the Plattsburgh Air Force Base project for Troy Slag Products Co. He operated Joseph Ondrek Construction Corporation in the 1960’s and operated Jubilee Construction Corporation with Curtis and Inez Sanders during the late 1960’s. In the 1970's, he and his second wife, Cynthia, built and ran Jeanne’s Dairy Bar and also Iroquois Campground in Peru.

Mr. Ondrek was a stock car enthusiast. He drove many cars in the 1950’s at Lebanon Valley Speedway, Menands Speedway, Pine Bowl Speedway and Airborne Speedway. He also helped start the NASCAR Circuit in the Northeast.

Joe was a lifetime a member of the Keeseville BPOE 2072.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Jeanne and Tim Arnold of Peru and Judy and John Halsted of Earlton; one brother and sister-in-law, Stephen and Isabelle of Surprise; five grandchildren, Dustin J.O. Bedore of Peru, John and Jeannie Halsted of Earlton, Jaron and Brenda Halsted of Greenville, Jenae and James Quinn of Albany and Jill and Joe Stannard of West Coxsackie; six great - grandchildren, Joshua, Jacob., Nicholas, Chelsea, Jaron - Michael and Cole; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a son, James Joseph Ondrek in 1960; two brothers; and one sister.

Services will be held Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at noon at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru. Beginning with a service by members of the Keeseville Elks Lodge, a memorial service will follow at the funeral home with Joe's grandson, Pastor Jaron Halsted, pastor of the Rock Solid Church of Hudson, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the St. Augustine’s School.

SARANAC LAKE — Barbara Johnson Parnass, 76, of Glenwood Estates, died Sunday, March 17, 2002, at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake, with family members at her bedside.

A person of deep social conscience, Mrs. Parnass actively sought to preserve the unique cultural and historic qualities of the North Country. She nurtured a wide circle of friendships with people of all ages.

During her 30 years in Saranac Lake, she proved herself a tireless supporter of area arts, history, environmental, human service and education causes.

As a fine arts photographer, her images captured the beauty of the Adirondacks and the subtle play between human enterprise and the natural world. Her searching intelligence, humor and caring for others will be remembered by all who knew her.

Mrs. Parnass was born Feb. 27, 1926, the daughter of the late Dr. Paul B. and Helen Johnson.

She was educated at the Riverdale Country Day School in Bronx, N.Y., and at Mount Holyoke College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies in 1948.

After college, she served as a personal assistant to a lawyer representing Rockefeller interests in New York City. She later became active in local historic, charitable and garden activities in St. Joseph, Mich., and Erie, Pa.

Mrs. Parnass was a founder and board member of Historic Saranac Lake, the Adirondack Architectural Heritage Society, North Star Industries and the Saranac Lake River Walk project.

She served lengthy and productive terms on the boards of the Adirondack Medical Center, the Saranac Lake Free Library, the River Walk Commission and the Essex County Garden Club.

For many years, she was a volunteer driver for the Meals on Wheels program.

In 1990, she was appointed by Gov. Mario Cuomo to the College Council of the State University of New York Plattsburgh, where she served until 2001.

Her three decades career as a photographer led to many one-woman and group exhibitions throughout northern New York. Her works were included in traveling national photographic exhibits and received numerous juried awards. Mrs. Parnass also served as the archivist of historic photographs in the Adirondack Collection of the Saranac Lake Free Library.

For many years, Mrs. Parnass enjoyed hiking and cross-country skiing. She was an avid gardener, reader and letter-writer.

She leaves her husband of 52 years, Henry W. Parnass; and three sons, Geoffrey W. Parnass of Ridgewood, N.J., Lawrence E. Parnass of Ashfield, Mass., and John H. Parnass of Seattle, Wash.; six grandchildren; and four nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Parnass also leaves a brother, John D. Johnson of Charlestown, R.I.

Burial will be private and there are no calling hours. The Fortune-Keough Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A public service celebrating her life will be held later, at a date to be announced.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Adirondack Room of the Saranac Lake Free Library, 100 Main St., Saranac Lake, or to the High Peaks Hospice, Trudeau Road, Saranac Lake.

Susan M. Mooney, 48, of Elizabeth Street in Plattsburgh, died Wednesday, March 20, 2002, at the Fletcher Allen Health Care Facility in Burlington, Vt.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Helen M. Berry, 93, formerly of Chancellor London Square, Clifton Park and Saranac, died peacefully at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy, N.Y., on March 20, 2002. Prior to her hospitalization she was residing at the Schuyler Ridge Nursing Home in Clifton Park. Helen was a native of Nashville, N.Y., in the Town of Saranac.

She was born on Sept. 5, 1908, the last surviving child of three daughters and fours sons born to Fred and Jane (Bruce) Newton.

Calling hours and funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.