Published: 4/29/04

Witherbee — Paul G. Poulet, 84, of Wasson Street, Witherbee, died Monday, April 26, 2004, at the Community Hospital in Elizabethtown, N.Y.

Paul was born June 28, 1919, in Winooski, Vt., the son of Wilfred and Claudia (Baril) Poolet.

He was employed at the Republic Steel Mines in Mineville, N.Y., until their closing. He was also a self employed carpenter. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Mineville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5802.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth (Palmer) Poolet of Witherbee; his daughters, Yvonne Mendez of Florida, Sheila Zelinsky of Witherbee, Karen LeMay of Canada, Deborah Feinstein of Canada and Denise Martinez of Florida; his sisters, Jane Flint, Lillian Noxon, Lorraine Collette and Yvonne Williams; a brother, Patrick Poolet; 11 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his siblings, James Poolet, Aline Greenough, Alex Poolet, Roger Poolet and Alfred Poolet.

There will be no services at this time.

Donations may be made in Paul’s memory to the Town of Moriah Ambulance Squad.

Port Henry — Mary A. (Brooks) DeMatteo left her friends and family peacefully from her home at 4217 Main St., in Port Henry, one day after celebrating her 85th birthday.

Mary was born in Witherbee, N.Y., on April 25, 1919, the daughter of John and Virginia (Mazza) Ponessa.

She is survived by her children, Rosalie Ruger of Watertown, Bruce Brooks and his wife Marilyn of Niceville, Fla., and James (Jimmy) Brooks and his special friend Anita of Moriah. Mary is also survived by her sisters, Lena Cifrian of Witherbee, Jenny Rosselli of Port Henry, Eleanor Scialdone of Utica and Betty Lane of Saratoga Springs; and her brother, Joseph Ponessa and his wife Betty of Saratoga Springs. Survivors also include ten grandchildren; 12 great - grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews; brothers and sisters-in-law, Louie, Maria and Jean DeMatteo and Leonard, Helaine and Enid Brooks; and numerous friends and neighbors.

Besides her parents, Mary was predeceased by her husband of 38 years, Arthur (Arturo) DeMatteo and her husband of 21 years, Harold (Joe) Brooks; her daughters Rochelle and Rowena Raye; her sisters, Rose Fernandez, Nellie Lavin, Sara Sanchez and Margarete Ponessa; her brothers Frank and John Ponessa; and her nieces and nephews, Thelma Chapuk, Laura Putnam, John Mascarenas and Alfred Sanchez.

For 35 years, Mary and Arturo made the best pizzas, subs and their most famous steak sandwiches. She was in the Moriah Ambulance Auxiliary, a RSVP volunteer and Alter and Rosary Society. In recent years, she enjoyed going to the Senior Citizen Center and visiting with friends and family. Mary was known for her kindness and her sense of humor.

Calling hours will be held at the Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry on Sunday, May 2, 2004, from 5 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday, May 3rd, at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church in Port Henry. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

GUILDERLAND — Olive Downs Joyner, 91, of Guilderland, died Monday, April 26, 2004, in the Community Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital.

Mrs. Joyner was born and raised in Peru, N.Y.

She lived in Plattsburgh, N.Y., Knoxville, Tenn., Tampa, Fla., and New York City before settling in Guilderland in 1960.

She was employed for 19 years by the Clinton County Board of Supervisors in Plattsburgh and she earned a bachelor’s degree from Russell Sage College in Albany in 1975. For many years she enjoyed the arts, both painting and sculpting. She also was a communicant of Christ the King Church in Guilderland.

Mrs. Joyner is survived by her husband, Thomas E. Joyner; her sister, Helen Keily of Burlington, Vt.; and by many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her sisters, Elizabeth Thew, Ruth Allen and Frances Downs; and by her brothers, Theodore Downs and Edgar Downs.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday morning at 10 a.m. in Christ the King Church, Sumter Avenue, Guilderland. A committal service will be held in St. Augustine’s Cemetery in Peru, N.Y., Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Office of Annual Giving, The Sage Colleges, 92 First Street, Troy, NY 12180.

Arrangements are with the Hans Funeral Home, Albany.

Eleanor Hennessy, 86, formerly of 3-5 Riverside Drive and 15 Helen St., Saranac Lake, died Tuesday, April 27, 2004, at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake with her family by her side.

Born in Blue Mt. Lake, N.Y., on April 16, 1918, she was the daughter of James and Lucina (Murray) Roblee.

Visitation will be held at Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday at 11:15 a.m., at St. Bernard's Church with Rev. Emil Tomaskovic officiating. Burial will follow in Pine Ridge Cemetery in the Old St. Bernard Section in Saranac Lake.

Majorie P. Pelkey, 79, of Sawmill Way, Morrisonville, died Wednesday, April 28, 2004, at CVPH Medical Center.

A graveside service will be held at a later date in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Cooperville.

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

Thomas C. Vititow, 69, of Glenville, N.Y., died on April 27, 2004, at Albany Medical Center, Albany, N.Y.

He was born in Peoria, Ill, on Aug. 17, 1934, the son of William and Gertrude (Fortman) Vititow.

Calling hours will be held at the White Funeral Home, 264 N. Ballston Ave., (Rte 50) Scotia, N.Y., on Friday, April 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 331 Seward Place, Schenectady. Cremation will follow the funeral Mass.

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