Published: 11/14/03

LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Morris D. "Jerry" McSweeney, 86, of 7688 Sharp St., Lowville, died Monday morning, Nov. 10, 2003, at his home.

He was born on March 19, 1917, in Potsdam, N.Y., a son of Jeremiah "Jerry" and Jennie McSweeney. He graduated from Potsdam High School in 1936.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945. Together, he and his wife owned and operated the Hill’s Department Store in Lowville for over 40 years.

Mr. McSweeney is survived by his wife Mary of Lowville; and his brother, Lawrence McSweeney of Peru; and a niece and nephew.

He is predeceased by a sister, Marion Greene.

A funeral Mass was said on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003, at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Lowville, with Rev. Joseph W. Giroux, parochial vicar, officiating. Spring burial will be in the Lowville Rural Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice.

Arrangements are with the Virkler - Percoski Funeral Home, Lowville.

CADYVILLE — Kathleen M. Flowers, 79, of General Robert Parker Avenue, died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in Bernardsville, N.J., on March 18, 1924, the daughter of Jack and Eva Mary (Hulance) Pyle.

Mrs. Flowers married Samuel T. Flowers Sr. on June 23, 1947, in Raton, N.M.

Among her prior accomplishments, Kathleen was a Cub Scout den mother. She also helped with the Boy Scouts, was a Brownies, Girl Scouts and Rainbow Girls leader. She also was involved with various PTA's and other civic functions.

She loved people and animals and her door was always open to those less fortunate.

Survivors include her husband, Samuel T. Flowers Sr. of Cadyville; one son, Samuel T. Flowers Jr. of Chateaugay Lake; two daughters, Sharon Flowers of Beekmantown and Victoria Flowers-Thompson and her husband John of Mays Landing, N.J.; 10 grandchildren, Samantha Lynn and Will Thomas Flowers, Samuel Seney and his wife Shari, Kathleen Nicole Coryea and her companion David Richard Jr., John Coryea and his wife Kristina, Danielle Coryea and Evan, Erin, Adam and John Patrick Thompson; five great - grandchildren, Brianna Lynn, Madelyn Rose, Brianna, Justin Samuel and Taylor Morgan; also many lifelong friends.

She was predeceased by one grandson, James Blakemore Flowers II; and one brother, Hugh T. Pyle.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. at the Cadyville Wesleyan Church. Burial in the Point Au Roche Cemetery will be at the convenience of the family.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the Cadyville Volunteer Fire Department.

Alfred, Maine — Brother Louis St. Pierre died at the Varney Crossing Nursing Home in North Berwick in the early hours of Nov. 11, 2003, of a heart attack after a long period of illness. He was 60 years of age.

Brother Louis, son of Leo A. and Lucie (Levesque) St. Pierre, was born in Brunswick, Maine, on Dec. 25, 1942.

He entered the novitiate of the Brothers of Christian Instruction at Alfred, Maine, on Aug. 22, 1962, and spent 41 years in religious life.

Brother Louis leaves behind two brothers, Leo St. Pierre of Newburgh, N.Y., and Roger St. Pierre of Topsham Heights; two sisters, Sister Anne Marie St. Pierre, CSC of Nashua, N.H., and Joan St. Pierre of Topsham.

Brother Louis was a product of the Catholic school system, having had as teachers the Ursuline sisters in grade school and the Brothers of Christian Instruction in high school. One of his uncles, Brother Benoit, a brother of the Marist congregation was also influential in his choice of career. His entry into the Congregation of the Brothers of Christian Instruction was however remarkable in as much as he had never met a brother of this order before coming to Notre Dame in Alfred. He considered his vocation as God’s plan for him and never wavered in his commitment to teaching and ministering to the youth as a guidance counselor.

A graduate of Walsh College (BA 1966) and Assumption College (MA 1973), he embraced teaching and guidance as his life work. Most of his professional life was spent in Fall River at Bishop Connolly High School and in Plattsburgh at Mount Assumption and Seton Catholic. He completed his life’s work as a Pastoral Minister in Plattsburgh until ill health, which had plagued him for a number of years, finally forced him into retirement in Alfred in 2003.

Brother Louis was first and foremost a man of compassion. A compassionate man, he easily won the love of the people he visited in the nursing homes and hospitals during the latter part of his life. He was faithful in this ministry as long as he was able and perhaps longer than his health permitted. It is reported that when he was obliged to cancel a visit, the patients would call saying that they wished to see him soon.

As a community man, whether in the role of superior or community member, Louis’ first concern was the welfare of each Brother. He was kind, considerate and generous towards all. He would never complain when people wronged him and would always accent the positive rather than the negative. He went out of his way to help the lonely, to console the weary. As superior, he led his community with tact and understanding through the difficult times of the Seton merger.

His first years of ministry were devoted to teaching in the Brothers’ schools of Detroit, Biddeford and Fall River. He enjoyed these years and saw them as a preparation for his years of counseling, a ministry for which he was gifted. His own words reveal a truly Christ like attitude. "Each one of us makes a unique contribution by sharing our gifts and talents." "Working with young people is not just a job, but something we want and enjoy doing." "In my ministry of counseling, I feel I can better use my God given talents."

There is no doubt that Louis has had a profound influence on a multitude of young people. His total commitment to his vocation as a religious teacher and counselor is exemplary. It also provided him with a sense of satisfaction. "I feel very happy and fulfilled working with young people." If his final years were difficult due to illness, he accepted all with true Christian fortitude placing himself in the hands of a compassionate God to whom he had devoted his entire life.

Visiting hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the Notre Dame Chapel, Shaker Hill Road in Alfred. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at Notre Dame Chapel with the Most Rev. Joseph J. Gerry, OSB, Bishop of Portland as principal celebrant. Burial will follow in the Brothers Cemetery in Alfred.

SARANAC LAKE — Dorothy Margaret (Dot) Miller, 74, of Saranac Village at Will Rogers, Saranac Lake, died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003, at Adirondack Medical Center following a brief illness.

Born March 23, 1929, in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Charles Allen and Margaret Wrench Niccolls and the wife of the late Paul E. Miller, who predeceased her in 1999.

She graduated from Upper Darby High School and was employed at Lit Brothers Department Store in Philadelphia, where she met her husband. The couple briefly lived in Kansas City, Mo., before relocating back to the Philadelphia area to start a family. They moved to Towanda, Pa., in 1970. While in Towanda, Mrs. Miller was active in the school’s Parent-Teacher Association and the Towanda High School Music Booster Club. She was a longtime member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Towanda (Pa.) Chapter No. 76 and the Towanda Senior Citizens Club.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller moved to Lewis in 1998 to live with their daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Steve Piatt. She was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Elizabethtown and volunteered for many hours at Adirondack Medical Center.

Mrs. Miller was also a member of the Ladies of the Church of the Good Shepherd and was active in the Elizabethtown Hospital Auxiliary.

She enjoyed traveling, wildlife and bird watching, reading and music.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Steve and Paula Piatt, of Lewis; a brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Joan Niccolls of Albrightsville, Pa., and Mesa, Ariz.; a nephew, Charles Niccolls III, of Primos, Pa.; a niece and her husband, Tracy and Steve Welsh of Havertown, Pa.; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Friends may call on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2003, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Marvin’s Sons Funeral Home, Court Street, Elizabethtown. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Elizabethtown.

Memorials may be directed to the Elizabethtown-Lewis Ambulance Squad, Elizabethtown, NY 12932, or to Saranac Village at Will Rogers, 78 Will Rogers Drive, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, Attention: Residents Council.

Dorrance H. Derby, 86, of Lake Shore Road, Plattsburgh, died Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center.

He was born in Schuyler Falls, N.Y., on May 14,1917, the son of Nathan G. and Anna M. (Lyon) Derby.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time with the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Rodney J. Trudeau Sr., 59, of Pine Brook Avenue, Morrisonville, passed away on Tuesday,

Nov. 11, 2003, at CVPH Medical Center.

Calling hours will be on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. from St. Alexander's Cemetery in Morrisonville. Burial will follow in St. Alexander's Cemetery in Morrisonville.

Elizabeth "Betty" Crawford, 73, of Tupper Lake, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 2003, at her home.

She was born on March 14, 1930, in Springfield, Mass.

Calling hours will be held at the Fortune - Keough - Rennell Funeral Home in Tupper Lake on Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. The service will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home.

Raymond Perry, 92, of McMaster Rd., Lake Clear, died Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003, at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.

He was born in Fort Covington, N.Y., on Oct. 22, 1911, the son of Fred and Leona (DeLosh) Perry.

Visitation will be held at Fortune-Keough Funeral Home Inc., on Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Kevin McEwan officiating. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery in Vermontville.

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