Published: 4/9/04

PERU — Winifred M. Bechard, 81, of Apple Valley Drive, died Monday, April 5, 2004, at CVPH Medical Center.

She was born on March 5, 1923, the daughter of Joseph and Delia (Hebert) Trombley.

Winifred was a member of St. Augustine Church in Peru and was a member of the St. Ann's Society for 50 years in Coopersville. She married Raymond Bechard on Jan. 21, 1940.

She worked for Aubuchon Hardware in Champlain for 17 years, retiring in 1985. Winifred's pride and joy was her family and her friends at Apple Valley.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Gail and James Coon of Keeseville and Judy and Marvin Pombrio of Chazy; one sister and brother-in-law, Lillian and Lawrence DeCelle of West Chazy; three grandchildren, Karen and Charles Crooker, Rick and Robin Coon and Corey Pombrio; six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.

Winifred was predeceased by her parents; her husband Raymond; a sister, Martha Pinsonneault; and a grandson, Jeffery Coon.

At Winifred's request there will be no public calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by Monsignor Joseph Aubin on Monday, April 12, 2004, at 11 a.m. at St. Augustine Church in Peru. A reception will follow at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Peru.

Burial will be at a later date at St. Mary's Cemetery in Champlain. Donations may be made to the Peru Fire Department or to the Chazy Fire Department.

Arrangements by the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Hartford, N.Y. — Jessie Viola Morehouse Irwin, 88, of East Street, Hartford, N.Y., passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at the home of her granddaughter, JoAnne Marie Huguley.

Born in Johnsburg on Aug. 5, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Daisy Mabel (Rand) Morehouse.

She married Thomas B. Irwin on Sept. 30, 1936. Thomas passed away in 1965.

Jessie moved to Hartford when she was four, where she attended Hartford School. Jessie always took care of her family and sacrificed for them constantly. Her greatest joys were her grandchildren, especially Adriana Marie Huguley, who she nurtured since birth and with whom she had a special bond. They enjoyed picking strawberries and walking together, as well as Jessie having her hair and nails done by Adriana and dancing to the latest music.

She held many jobs, often two or three at one time. They included Chase Bag, Mohawk Carpet, sitting with the elderly and being a Green Thumb worker. When her husband became ill, Jessie ran his farm. She picked potatoes and wallpapered. She also sat on the Board of Elections for many years. She was a member of the Eastern Star and the Hartford Methodist Church.

Jessie was particularly close to her granddaughter JoAnne, who she helped raise since birth and with whom she resided for the last several years.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her sisters, Freda and Julia Morehouse, Lucy Hart and Hazel Fowler; her brothers, Ira (Ted), William, Howard, Carlos and Forrest Morehouse; a granddaughter, Pamela J. Snide; and Jessie's special companion of more than 30 years, Alphonse Corrigan.

Survivors include her son, William Rand Irwin Sr. and his wife Shirley of West Chazy, N.Y.; her daughter, Sandra E. Woodard and her husband Frank of Hartford; her granddaughter, JoAnne Marie Huguley and her husband Joseph of Hartford; her sister, Harriet Cross of Fort Edward; her grandchildren, Amanda Winters and her husband Timothy of Malone, William R. Irwin Jr. and his wife Nancy of Rouses Point, Tammy LaBonte and her husband Gordon and Ronnie Burnell and his wife Julie, all of West Chazy; her great-grandchildren, Adriana Huguley, Zachary Huguley, Nathan Irwin, Mechelle Irwin, Danielle Irwin, David Seymour, Aaron Seymour, Emma Winters, Natasha Snide, Ronnie Snide Jr., Nicholas LaBonte, Scott LaBonte, Madison Burnell and Sidney Burnell; and several nieces and nephews. Jessie was also about to become a great-great-grandmother.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 9, at the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 123 Main Street, Argyle, N.Y.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be later this spring at Morningside Cemetery in Hartford.

Following the services, a reception will be held at the home of Jessie's daughter, Sandra Woodard, at 49 Main St., Hartford.

Donations may be made in Jessie's memory to the Hartford Volunteer Fire Co., PO Box 121, Hartford, NY 12838, the Argyle Emergency Squad, Inc., 248 Pleasant Valley Road, Argyle, NY 12809, or to the Hospice of Washington County, 15 Lower Main St., Hudson Falls, NY 12839.

Waynesboro, Pa. — Jodie S. (Olson) Luning, 50, of 124 Antietam Drive, Waynesboro, Pa., died at 9:35 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, 2004, in Waynesboro Hospital as a result of a heart attack.

Born June 25, 1953, in Beloit, Wis., she was the daughter of Lavern W. and Helen L. (Grenawalt) Olson of Waynesboro.

Mrs. Luning was a 1971 graduate of Little Falls High School in New York.

She and her husband, Donald G. Luning, were married Nov. 2, 1974, in Little Falls. Mr. Luning died Sept. 14, 1982. She had lived at the present residence for the past 12 years. She had lived in Plattsburgh from 1985 to 1992.

Mrs. Luning was a devoted mother and homemaker.

She was a member of the BPO Elks Lodge 731 Ladies Auxiliary, Waynesboro.

She enjoyed animals, spending time with her grandchildren, football and cooking.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Luning is survived by one daughter, Jennifer M. Hardwick of Conway, S.C.; one son, Matthew D. Luning of Waynesboro; four grandchildren; two sisters, Julie Anne Colvard of Plattsburgh, N.Y., and Jill W. Cook of Waynesboro; one brother, Scott T. Olson of Little Falls; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro, with the Rev. Carol A. Kipe officiating. Burial will be in Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jennifer M. Hardwick, 121 Adrianna Circle, Conway, SC 29526 or to Matthew D. Luning, 8857 Picadilly Circle, Waynesboro, PA 17268, for her grandchildren.

PLATTSBURGH — Rollen J. Bechard, 90, of Rouses Point, died Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at CVPH Medical Center.

He was born Jan. 24, 1914, in Perrys Mills, N.Y., the son of Hector and Emma (Garrand) Bechard. He graduated from Chazy Rural School. After graduating from high school he went to work for the CN Railroad. He married Ruth Manor on April 24, 1939, at St. Ann's Church in Mooers Forks.

Most of his working life he was a maintenance supervisor at Ayerst Laboratories in Rouses Point. After his retirement, he worked as a school crossing guard in Rouses Point for 12 years. He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed woodworking and was known as being a "prankster." He was also a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a member of the Rouses Point K of C and a charter member of the Rouses Point Sportsmen's Club. In 1994 he and his wife Ruth were named king and queen of the Rouses Point Winter Carnival.

Besides his wife, he is survived by one son, Robert Rollen Bechard and his wife Claudia of Jericho, Vt.; one daughter, Roberta LaFontaine and her husband Peter of Rouses Point; two brothers, Romeo Bechard of Coopersville and Conrad Bechard of Florida; one sister, Rita Barney of Champlain; four grandchildren, Barton Bechard, Lydia Witham, Renee Slattery and Shelley Harcott; six great-grandchildren, Kyle and Samantha Witham, Benjamin and Ethan Slattery and Peter and Kelly Harcott.

He was predeceased by one sister, Sister Mary Loretta.

There will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 12, at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church in Rouses Point. Burial will follow the Mass at Maple Hill Cemetery in Rouses Point. A luncheon will immediately follow the burial in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Rouses Point Fire Department and Rescue Squad.

Arrangements are with M.B. Clark Funeral Home in Rouses Point.

Plattsburgh — Laurie (Devan) Baker, 48, of Margaret Street, Plattsburgh and formerly of Hawaii, passed away Monday, April 5, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on Dec. 9, 1955, the daughter of Earl C. and Annette E. (Lawton) Devan.

Laurie is survived by her mother, Annette Devan of Mooers; one brother and sister-in-law, Jay and Fay Devan of Cadyville; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Lynn and Michael Myers of Plattsburgh and Kerry and Richard Gladd of Champlain. Several nieces and nephews also survive her.

Laurie was predeceased by her father, Earl C. Devan, who passed away in 1986.

Calling hours will be held Monday, April 12, 2004, at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Tuesday, April 13, 2004, at 10 a.m. from St. James Minor Church in Cadyville. Burial will take place later in the year in the parish cemetery.

Friends wishing may make donations to a charity of one's choice.

The family invites friends to gather at the St. James Minor Church Hall for a reception immediately following the funeral Mass.

Plattsburgh — Walter B. Stearns, 78, passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

He was born in Saranac Lake on June 16, 1925, the son of Leon and Dorothy (Rice) Stearns.

He attended school in Saranac Lake and served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and fought in the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres.

Walter was a volunteer for the ARC on Staten Island, N.Y. Walter married Pauline Vetri on Nov. 8, 1947, on Staten Island.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline (Vetri) Stearns of Plattsburgh; sons and daughters, Walter R. Stearns and his wife Marilyn of Olathe, Kan., Randall W. Stearns and his wife Joy-Ellen of Port Orange, Fla., his daughter Ann Richards and her husband John of Malone, Lawrence P. Stearns and his wife Evelyn of Plattsburgh, his daughters Patricia A. Cowan and her husband Richard of Wallkill, N.Y., Linda E. Stearns and Dale Hubbard of Chateaugay, his son Cyril P. Stearns and his wife Kim of Mandaree, N.D.; his sisters, Eileen F. Harding, Beverly D. Townley and Janice M. Gauthier; and brother Roswell A. Stearns; 11 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.

Walter was predeceased by his father, Leon R. Stearns; his mother Dorothy (Rice) Stearns; two brothers, Francis L. and Randall W. Stearns; a grandson, Christopher M. Stearns; and a nephew, Cyril H. Townley.

There will be a memorial talk on Sunday, April 11, 2004, at 3 p.m. at the ONeill-Redden-Drown Funeral Home, 94 Court St., in Plattsburgh.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kidney Dialysis Unit at CVPH.

Willsboro — Pauline Racine, 71, of Birch Avenue, Willsboro, formerly of Watervliet, died at CVPH Medical Center Wednesday, April 7, 2004, after a long illness.

She was born in Grand Isle, Vt., on Nov. 2, 1932, the daughter of Benjamin and Florence (Nelson) Burnum.

Mrs. Racine was a homemaker, a born again Christian and a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Plattsburgh.

She is survived by her husband Leo of Willsboro; two sons, Norman of Troy, N.Y., and Marcel and wife of Grand Haven, Mich.; one daughter, Rosemary and husband Martin Lagenness of Grand Haven, Mich.; two sisters, Beverly and husband Hollis Martin of Balston Lake and Kathleen and husband Don Sander of Latham; two brothers, Benjamin of Grand Isle, Vt., and Eli of Texas; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 9, 2004, at the Huestis Funeral Home, Maple Street, Willsboro.

Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, April 10, 2004, at 9 a.m. with Rev. Michael SanSoucie officiating. Burial will follow in Memory's Garden, Watervliet - Shaker Road, Albany, N.Y., at 12:30 p.m.

Farmington, Conn. — Louise C. (Carpenter) Murphy, 85, widow of Robert F. Murphy, died on Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at Nursing Care Center of Bristol, Conn.

Mrs. Murphy was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on April 14, 1918, and was a daughter of the late David and Edith (Couture) Carpenter.

Raised in Plattsburgh, N.Y., she also formerly resided in Florida before moving to Farmington. She was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.

Mrs. Murphy is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, John "Jack" and Brenda Murphy of Bristol; a daughter, Pamela Murphy of Bend, Ore.; two grandchildren; two great - grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

There are no calling hours. A graveside service with military honors will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2004, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Cemetery, Bristol.

Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave., Bristol, is in charge of arrangements. www.funkfuneralhome.com

Joseph E. Rivers, 65, of 21 Shepard St., Malone, N.Y., died unexpectedly Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at the Alice Hyde Hospital in Malone,

Born in Malone, May 16, 1938, he was the son of the late Joseph and Gladys (Pritchard) Rivers.

Calling hours will be Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in St. John Bosco Cemetery later in the spring.

Rita B. Banks, 89, of Steltzer Drive, Plattsburgh, died Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Calling hours will be on Thursday, April 15, 2004, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 16, 2004, at 11 a.m. from St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh. Burial will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

A full obituary will appear in the Saturday, April 10th and Wednesday, April 15th, Press-Republican.

Alphonso L. Riccardelli, 76, of the Patent Road, Peru, died Thursday, April 8, 2004, at his home, under the care of his family and Hospice of the North Country.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru.

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