Published: 4/23/04

Plattsburgh — Mrs. Mildred M. Lafountain, 93, of Abenaki Road, Plattsburgh, passed away Wednesday, April 21, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in Keeseville, N.Y., on Jan. 4, 1911, the daughter of Joseph and Malvina (Vincent) Spooner.

Mildred enjoyed embroidering, hand-sewing quilts and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of Our Lady of Victory Church.

Mildred was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Harry Lafountain; a son, Francis Lafountain; a grandson, Francis Lafountain; and a brother, Harold Spooner.

She is survived by two daughters, Genevieve Goddeau and her husband Joseph of Dannemora and Theresa Duell and her husband Robert of Plattsburgh; a son, Earl Lafountain and his wife Mary of Schuyler Falls; a sister-in-law, Georgianna Spooner of Plattsburgh, a daughter-in-law, Christina Lafountain of Plattsburgh; four foster children, Sandy Ebersole of Plattsburgh, Roberta LaDue and her husband Francis of West Chazy, Gary Lafountain and his wife Heather of Dannemora and Joseph Spooner and his wife Brenda of West Virginia; 24 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at 9 a.m. from Our Lady of Victory Church with the Rev. Floyd "Jerry" Bleaux, pastor as celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

A vigil service will be held Friday at 3 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home.

Friends wishing may have Masses said in her memory.

Plattsburgh — John A. Leonard, 81, of Valhalla Lane, passed away on Wednesday, April 21, 2004, at Fletcher Allen Hospital in Burlington, Vt., with his family at his bedside.

He was born in Dannemora on March 31, 1923, son of Arthur R. and Mildred C. (Haley) Leonard.

John was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He was a Staff Sgt. of the 10th Infantry Division, Third Army, serving in the European Theater, where he was awarded two Bronze Stars and five Battle Stars.

John was a carpenter for Fitzpatrick and Sons for 25 years. He retired from Clinton County as a Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds. John was an avid hunter and fisherman and a member of Bluff Point Golf and Country Club for 35 years. He loved to sit outside with his best friend, "Peanut."

John is survived by his wife of 58 years, Shirley C. Gioiosa of Plattsburgh; three children, Christina M. Ransier and her husband Bill of Hanover, Pa., Patricia A. Leonard of Plattsburgh, Michael J. Leonard and his wife Karen of Plattsburgh; six grandchildren; five great - grandchildren; two sisters, Veronica Connery of Vestal and Marilyn Collins of Plattsburgh; a brother, Jerry Leonard of Plattsburgh; and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 a.m. from St. Mary’s of the Lake Church in Cumberland. Burial will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

Arrangements by Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Churubusco — Gerald J. Decosse, 72, of the Frontier Road, Churubusco, died Thursday, April 22, 2004, at CVPH Medical Center, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Born in Churubusco, N.Y., on Jan. 25, 1932, he was the son of Armand and Doria (Tremblay) Decosse.

He was married to Leatrice McDonald on June 9, 1956. She predeceased him on June 9, 1998.

Mr. Decosse is survived by six children, James and Barbara Decosse of Churubusco, Lawrence Decosse of Churubusco, Dean Decosse of Churubusco, Cindy Decosse of Mooers, Karen Decosse of Hampton, N.H., and Pam and David Colburn of Beekmantown; five grandchildren, Jamie, Jennifer, Jesse, Tricia and Jon Decosse; six sisters and five brothers-in-law, Annette Trombley of Chateaugay, Anita and Ross Trombley of Chateaugay, Helen and Roma DeCoste of Mooers Forks, Shirley and Lionel Barcomb of Mooers Forks, Joanne and Reginald Barcomb of Batavia and Pauline and Jacque Barcomb of Mooers Forks.

Besides his wife, he was predeceased by his parents; an infant son, Scott; and a brother-in-law, Clarence Trombley.

Mr. Decosse worked many years as a construction worker. He retired from construction work to operate the family farm. He retired from farming in 1997.

Calling hours will be private and at the convenience of the family.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Churubusco, with Rev. Howard McCasland officiating. Burial will take place at Immaculate Heart Cemetery, Churubusco.

The family will be gathering at the Churubusco Fire Department immediately after the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Churubusco Fire Department.

Ernest J. Roberts, 86, of Zephyrhills, Fla., died April 19, 2004, in Zephyrhills.

He was born on June 22, 1917, in Saranac, N.Y., the son of William and Melina (Carron) Roberts.

Arrangements are with the Whitfield Funeral Home, Zephyrhills, Fla.

Dorothy B. McacheM, 90, of Factoryville Road, Crown Point, died Thursday, April 22, 2004, at the Helen Porter Nursing Home, Middlebury, Vt.

She was born April 19, 1914, in Addison, Vt., the daughter of William and Besse (Fuller) Baker.

Arrangements with Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry are incomplete at this time. A full obituary will appear in the Saturday Press-Republican.

Carol A. Vassar, 53, of Northway Trailer Court, Plattsburgh, died Thursday, April 22, 2004, at her home.

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

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Press-Republican, 170 Margaret St., P.O. Box 459, Plattsburgh, NY 12901

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