Published: 1/7/04

Homestead, Fla. — Bernice Cooper Haselton was born in Upper Jay, N.Y., on July 13, 1912, the oldest of three children of Pauline (Thayer) and Kenneth Cooper. Following the death of her father, she was raised by an uncle and aunt, Pliny and Emma Cooper.

The angels came for her on Dec. 22, 2003, at Brookwood Gardens in Homestead, Fla., following years of declining health due to Alzheimer's.

Bernice graduated from AuSable Forks High School and attended Eastern Nazarene College and Plattsburgh Normal School. She became a certified teacher and taught schools in Lake Placid, Wilmington and Elizabethtown from the mid-1930's to the late 1960's. After retirement, she continued substitute teaching in Miami-Dade County Schools until the late 1980's. She influenced thousands of children throughout her many years in the field of education.

In 1939, she married George Haselton, who passed away in June 2000. George ran a gas station and garage in Wilmington and served as supervisor of town. Together they served many years in the kitchen at Wilmington Camp Meeting. Bernice's goal was to feed those who attended as if she had invited them to her house for a meal.

The Haseltons were members of Wilmington Church of the Nazarene. In January 1970, they moved to Homestead, Fla., and attended Homestead and Redland Churches of the Nazarene.

Bernice's survivors include a son, Halsey (wife Rose) Haselton of Knoxville, Tenn.; a daughter, Helen (husband Clif) Patnode of Homestead, Fla.; granddaughters, Denise Soriano and Janine Cabaj; four great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; cousins and friends.
Just nineteen hours previous to Bernice's passing, her sister-in-law, Martha Savage went to be with the Lord. Services and committal for both Bernice and Martha were held at Palms Woodlawn in Naranja, Fla., on Dec. 24, 2003. Rev. Darin Pound officiated at Bernice's memorial, with Rev. W. L. Chambers, Jr. assisting.

Anyone who wishes to send a memorial, may send it to Wilmington Camp Meeting Association, c/o Mrs. Dana Peck, HC 2 Box 135, Wilmington, NY 12997.

Ticonderoga — Lawrence A. "Dude" Eichen, 81, of Baldwin Road, Ticonderoga, passed away Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, at Meadow Brook Health Care of Plattsburgh.

He was born in Ticonderoga, Feb. 13, 1922, the son of the late Albert and Kittle (McCabe) Eichen.

Mr. Eichen was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in Africa and Italy during World War II.

He has been a lifelong Ticonderoga resident and was involved in the lumber business and as a self-employed logger in Ticonderoga for all of his working life.

He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1494, The Veterans of Foreign Wars post 146 and the American Legion post 224, all of Ticonderoga.

He was predeceased by his wife, Lillian B. Eichen in 2003; and by one son, Ernest Eichen in 1998.

Survivors include one daughter, Kitty A. Connery and her husband John of Beekmantown; three sisters, Barbara Dowdle of Norwood, Bess Hopkins of Ticonderoga and Blanche Rivers of Ticonderoga; and three grandchildren, Susanne Dennis, Brian Connery and Lawrence Eichen. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

There will be no calling hours. A graveside service will take place in the spring at the family plot of the Valley View Cemetery of Ticonderoga.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Ticonderoga Emergency Squad, 1 Depot Street, Ticonderoga, NY 12883.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin Street, Ticonderoga.

Lena M. Mitchell, 94, of Waterhouse Street, Plattsburgh died Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, at Clinton County Nursing Home, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

She was born in Chateaugay, N.Y., on Sept. 15, 1909, the daughter of Frank and Edith (Crowningshield) LaGrave.

Services are private and at the convenience of the family. Burial will take place in the spring at Eastside Cemetery in Chateaugay. Arrangements by Chateaugay Funeral Home.

George E. Ledges, 92, of Couchey Hill, Essex, N.Y., died at CVPH Tuesday Jan. 6, 2004.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. An obituary will be in tomorrow's paper.

Huestis Funeral Home in Willsboro is in charge of arrangements.

Leo John Hourihan III, 43, of Brasher Falls, N.Y., died unexpectedly Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004.

He was born May 21, 1960, in Massena, N.Y., the son of Leo John II and Charolette (MacGibbon) Hourihan of North Lawrence.

Calling hours will be held at the Flint Funeral Home, Moira Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Brushton with the Rev. Howard J. Venette officiating. Spring burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Brushton.

Robert V. Gray, 68, of Pike Street, Fort Covington, died Monday afternoon, Jan. 5, 2004, at the Massena Memorial Hospital where he had been a patient since Saturday.

He was born in Brasher Falls, N.Y., on June 29, 1935, the son of the late Vernon P. and Josephine Gaffney Gray.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Cappiello-McKenzie and Cosgrove Funeral Home in Fort Covington. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 4 p.m. Thursday in St. Mary’s Church in Fort Covington, with the Rev. Stephen Rocker, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery in the spring.

James J. Valenze, 66, of School Street, Lake Placid, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany after a short illness.

He was born in Lake Placid on Sept. 30, 1937, the son of Herman and Pearl (Roy) Valenze.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home in Lake Placid. A Mass of Christian burial will be offered Friday, Jan. 9, at 10 a.m. at St. Agnes Church. Burial will be in North Elba Cemetery in May.

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