BEEKMANTOWN — The Rev. Joseph Lee Snow, 73, died on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2003, at his home in Beekmantown. Father had been under the care of Hospice for the past several weeks.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon on Thursday at St. Mary’s of the Lake Church in Cumberland Head with the Rev. Monsignor Robert L. Lawler presiding. The Rev. Floyd J. Bleaux will be the homilist with priests from the Diocese of Ogdensburg concelebrating. Calling hours will be held at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday. The body will be transferred to St. Mary’s of the Lake Church at 7 p.m. Wednesday for evening prayer with calling hours continuing in the church until 9 p.m. Following the funeral liturgy, burial will take place at the perish cemetery in Cumberland Head.

Father Snow was born in Plattsburgh on Dec. 24, 1929, the son of the late Lee Joseph B. and May E. (Foster) Snow. He attended St. John’s Academy in Plattsburgh. After he graduated from high school, Father attended Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg. His theological studies continued at St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester, N.Y. On May 21, 1955, Father Snow was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Walter Kellenberg at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg.

Father Snow served as assistant pastor at St. Patrick’s in Watertown, St. John Bosco in Malone, and St. Mary’s in Champlain. Following these assignments, he served for a brief time at the Diocesan Mission in Mollendo, Peru, South America. Returning to the diocese, he served as assistant pastor at Notre Dame in Malone. He then became the founding pastor of St. Mary of the Lake Church in Cumberland Head where he served for eight years. Father Snow was also pastor of St. Elizabeth’s in Elizabethtown, St. Agnes in Lake Placid, and St. Augustine’s in North Bangor with its mission of St. Edward’s in West Bangor. He also served as pastor of St. Michael’s in Antwerp and St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia.

For many years, Father Snow assisted Father Lawrence Brady at St. Joseph’s in Mooers. In retirement, he assisted the parishes of the area and served as temporary administrator at John XXIII Newman Center in Plattsburgh. He also served as administrator of St. Phillip Neri in Westport and at St. Edmund’s in Ellenburg following the unexpected death of Father Joseph Trombley.

For many years, Father Snow served as a Defender of the Bond in the Diocesan Matrimonial Tribunal and previously served a five-year term as a Pro-Synodal Judge. Father also served as a member of the Senate of Priests.

Father Snow is survived by two sisters, Beverly Snow of Schenectady and Lillian Snow of Connecticut, and a brother and sister-in-law, George and Yvonne Snow of Middletown, N.Y. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews and by his housekeeper and friend, Marie Giuliano.

CROWN POINT — Donald E. Lafrance, 97, of Pearl Street, Crown Point, died Saturday, Nov. 15, 2003 at the Porter Nursing Home, Middlebury, Vt.

He was born at Crown Point on May 13, 1906, the son of Eugene and Isabell (Ingleston) Lafrance.

Don worked in lumber yards at Essex and Crown Point and as caretaker at the Forestdale Cemetery in Crown Point. He enjoyed and loved his neighbors and visits from his friends.

Survivors include two nieces, Mary Jo Sanchez and family and Jean Lafrance Larson and family; a sister-in-law, Laura Lafrance; and very close friends "Vicey" Delorme, Robert and Shirley Patnode, Bob and Peg Patnode and family, Marlene and Bill Nadeau and family, and Joe and Shirley Patnode and family. He was predeceased by his parents and a brother, Joseph.

Calling hours will be held at the Harland Funeral Home 17 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m today.

Funeral services will be held at the Harland Funeral Home 10 a.m. Tuesday. The Rev. David Pelkey will officiate.

Graveside services will follow at the Fairview Cemetery, Crown Point. Pall bearers are Bob Patnode, Joe Patnode, Toni Patnode, Renee Nadeau, Floyd Trombley and William Boyle, all family and friends of Don.

PLATTSBURGH — Mr. Chester C. "Chet" Hazen, 88, of Ridgeway Drive, passed away Friday, Nov. 14, 2003, at his home with his family by his side.

He was born in Sharpsville, Pa., on Feb. 8, 1915, the son of Warren R. and Anna (Troutman) Hazen.

Chester was a veteran of World War II, serving as captain in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946. He married the former Frances (Todd) Hazen on Jan. 11, 1942. Chester owned and operated Hazen’s Music Store on Clinton Street from 1946 to 1975. He later owned Flair Crafts with his wife, Fran, and daughter-in-law Sandy from 1975 to 1990, when he retired. Chester was a past member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Plattsburgh Lodge 621. He served as president of the Peru School Board from 1965 to 1967 and served as chairman for the Board of Fire Commissioners for the District 3 Fire Department. He played the organ at WPTZ in the early 1950’s. Chet enjoyed playing golf and spending time with his grandchildren. He will be remembered as a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and friend. Chester was predeceased by his wife, Frances, in 1988; his parents, Warren and Anna Hazen; and a brother.

He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Richard Lanke of Honolulu, Hawaii; a son and daughter-in-law, Richard "Rick" and Sandy Hazen of Plattsburgh; a grand-daughter, Melanie Hazen, who was his full-time care provider, and a grandson, Mathew Hazen, both of Plattsburgh; a brother, Wilbur Hazen of Sharon, Pa.; a special friend and nurse to Chet and his family, Judy Relation, who took great care of him during his illness.

Calling hours will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A service will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday with Kelly Donoghue, chaplain of the Clinton County Fire Fighters Association, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Clinton County Fire Fighters Association, 16 Emergency Services Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12903.

WILMINGTON — Alvin D. Mason, 72, of Whiteface Mountain Road, died Saturday evening, Nov. 15, 2003, at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born on March 25, 1931, in Wilmington, the son of Vincent Sr. and Eliza (Lawrence) Mason. He was a veteran of the Korean conflict, a bobsled driver at Mt. Van Hoevenberg bobsled run, and a laborer for N.Y.S. Conservation Dept.; he was also an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed camping.

Mason is survived by his wife, Mary (Hathaway) Mason, whom he married on July 13, 1963 in Jay; a daughter and son-in-law, Nadine and Bryan Camire; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Alvin and Rebecca Mason II, Mouser (Kelvin) and Hope Mason, all of Wilmington, and Duane Mason of Upper Jay; seven grandchildren, Christopher, Maya, Brittany, Keria, Duries, Tiana and Samantha; five stepchildren, Randy Smith, Danny and Kathy Smith, Mark Hathaway, all of Wilmington, Sidney (Spin) Smith of Keeseville, and Diane Hathaway of Lake Placid; 21 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; a brother, Francis Mason Sr. of Wilmington; six sisters, Shirley Straight of Upper Jay, Betty Smith, Violet Unwin and Marion Jones, all of Wilmington, Goldie Fountain of AuSable Forks and Nancy Mason of California; a brother-in-law, Leonard Hathaway of Milton, Vt.; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home in AuSable Forks. Cremation will follow calling hours. Burial will be at a later date in the Haselton Cemetery, Wilmington. Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

PLATTSBURGH — Henry J. Fortin Sr., a lifetime Plattsburgh resident and businessman, passed away at Sidney Hospital in Sidney, N.Y., on Nov. 15, 2003.

He was born Aug. 12, 1924, to Armand and Laurence Fortin.

Shortly after marrying his childhood sweetheart, Irene Carpenter, on Jan. 9, 1942, Henry entered the Army to serve his country in World War II. He was stationed in France, Germany and Austria.

Henry and Irene, together through 61 years of marriage, had six children: Henry Jr. of Chazy, Carol LaMarche of Windham, N.H., Alys Lawrence of Fort Meyers, Fla., Colin, also of Fort Meyers, Christina Guay of Champlain, and Michael of Unadilla, N.Y.

A devoted family man and a respected businessman, Henry operated A. Fortin’s Sons Oil Co. with his brother Leo; it is now run by their sons. Aside from hard work, Henry enjoyed fishing, hunting, golf and farming. He traveled good portions of the United States and Canada in pursuit of these interests. His favorite spots always seemed to lie at the end of a long dirt road. His family and friends will always remember him for his well-told stories — stories of hard-lived life, stories of a life well lived. He departed this world in a place he loved, doing what he loved to do.

He is survived by his wife, Irene, his sisters Henrietta Defayette and Lilian Dubrey, his brother, Brother Raymond, his six children, 16 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren. There will be no calling hours. A memorial Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Church 9 a.m. Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the CVPH Heart Fund.

RONALD LUCIA, 53, of Bloomer Street, Altona, died Sunday, Nov. 16, 2003, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

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

RODERICK F. DRINKWINE, 82, of Main Street, Crown Point, died Saturday, Nov. 15, 2003, at his home.

He was born in Mineville on Jan. 30, 1921, the son of Joseph and Nellie (Strong) Drinkwine.

Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at the Congregational Church in Crown Point.

A full obituary will appear in Tuesday’s newspaper.