Published: 6/18/04

Plattsburgh — Esperanza (Fran) Ales, 72, died Tuesday, June 15, 2004, at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany with her family by her side.

She was born June 6, 1932, in Manila, Philippines. Her parents, Exequiel Perez and Paz Roxas, predeceased her.

Fran had been a resident of Plattsburgh since 1970, when her family was transferred to the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base. She was an employee of Wal-Mart for the past nine years. She had a passion for bowling and bingo.

Survivors include her husband, Thomas Ales; her children, Nancy and Michael Yelle (deceased) of Rouses Point, N.Y., Vivian and Vincent Byrne of San Diego, Calif., Joseph and Mona Ales of Eros, La., Thomas and Tina Ales of Plattsburgh and Vincent and Karen Ales of Beekmantown, N.Y. She's also survived by 16 grandchildren, Jeremy, Melissa and Peter; Nicole, Michael and Jackie; Elizabeth, Ashely, Joseph (deceased) and Arlena; Katrina, Stephen and Thomas III; Katrina, Conrad and Jordynne; two sisters, Linda Kelleher of Maine and Fe Cook of Florida; five sisters-in-law and five brothers-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

Two sisters; a brother; two sisters-in-law; and four brothers-in-law have also preceded her.

Calling hours will be on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home at 29 Broad St., in Plattsburgh. On Saturday evening from 7 to 9 p.m., the Knights of Columbus Council 6067 will perform a prayer service. The funeral will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Peter's Church on Cornelia Street in Plattsburgh. The burial will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to the American Heart Foundation.

Jay — Thomas O. Patnode, 73, of Hesseltine Road, Jay, passed away Thursday, June 17, 2004, at the Fletcher Allen Health Care Facility, Burlington, Vt.

Tom was born April 27, 1931, in Lake Placid, the son of Bartholomew and Winified (Perkins) Patnode.

He graduated from Lake Placid High School in 1950. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict. Tom was a member of the AuSable Forks United Methodist Church. This was his 50th year employed at Santa's Workshop as a reindeer trainer.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.

He is survived by his wife, Doris (Hesseltine) Patnode, whom he married July 19, 1958, in Lake Placid; a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Julie Patnode of Heuvelton; two daughters and a son-in-law, Sharon and Steven Niles of Jay and Cynthia Patnode of Jay; five grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Bartholomew and Elvira Patnode and Edward Patnode, all of Lake Placid; and several nieces and nephews.

Three sisters and two brothers predeceased him: Alice Beeckel, Kathleen Kempa, Frances Dickens; and James Patnode and Luke Patnode.

Visitation hours will be Saturday, June 19th, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the AuSable Forks United Methodist Church with Rev. Virginia Pierce officiating. Burial will be in the family plot in Jay Central Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Memorials to Tom may be made to the Cancer Fund or the Heart Fund; envelopes are available at the funeral home.

Redwood, N.Y. — Rev. James L. Meehan, 88, died on Wednesday evening, June 16, 2004, at St. Francis Xavier Rectory in Redwood, N.Y. Father Meehan had been in failing health for several months.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Cyril's Catholic Church in Alexandria Bay, N.Y., on Tuesday, June 22, at 2:30 p.m. Most Rev. Robert J. Cunningham, Bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, will preside at the funeral Liturgy with the priests of the Diocese concelebrating. Rev. Douglas Comstock, pastor of St. Andrew's Church in Sackets Harbor and Queen of Heaven Church in Henderson Harbor, will be the homilist. The body will be received at St. Cyril's Church on Monday, June 21, at 2 p.m. where calling hours will continue until 9 p.m. Evening prayer will be held at 7 p.m. Fox-McLellan Funeral Home of Ogdensburg is in charge of arrangements. Burial will take place at the family plot at St. Mary's Cemetery in Ogdensburg.

Father Meehan was born in Ogdensburg on Feb. 15, 1916, the son of James M. and Kathleen (Bourke) Meehan. He graduated from St. Mary's Academy in Ogdensburg in 1933. In preparation for the priesthood, he studied at Wadhams Hall Seminary in Ogdensburg and St. Augustine's Seminary in Toronto. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Mary's Cathedral in Ogdensburg by Bishop Francis J. Monaghan on June 7, 1941.

After his ordination, Father Meehan served as assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Massena. In 1944, he became the resident chaplain of Mercy Hospital in Watertown. Father Meehan was appointed pastor of St. Ann's Church in St. Regis Falls and St. Peter's Church in Santa Clara in 1950. He also served as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Morristown and Our Lady of Grace Church in Brier Hill from 1954 to 1957. For the next 12 years, Father Meehan was pastor of St. Michael's Church in Antwerp and St. Joseph’s Church in Philadelphia. Father Meehan’s last pastorate was at St. Cyril’s Church in Alexandria Bay that was later combined with St. Francis Xavier Church in Redwood. Father Meehan retired as pastor in 1991 and was named Pastor Emeritus. In retirement, he resided at the rectory in Redwood where he continued to provide pastoral care.

In addition to his pastoral assignments, Father also served the Diocese of Ogdensburg as a member of the Council of Priests. In 1987, the Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce named Father Meehan "Citizen of the Year" in recognition of his outstanding pastoral care to the people of the community. Father Meehan was well known for his gentle Irish wit and for his delivery of the "60 second soul-saver." Father’s many friends referred to him as the Patriarch of Alexandria.

Father Meehan is survived by one brother, Charles Meehan of Fresno, Calif.; a niece, Margaret (Peggy) Meehan of Yorktown Heights, N.Y.; and three nephews, Peter Meehan of Lynbrook, N.Y., Sean Meehan of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and James Meehan of Newington, Conn.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, John Meehan.

Ticonderoga — Carlton E. Stacy, 72, of Battery Street, passed away Wednesday, June 16, 2004, at his home in Ticonderoga, surrounded by his beloved family.

Born May 25, 1932, in Middlebury, Vt., he was the son of the late Carlton E. and Genevieve (Clarke) Stacy.

Mr. Stacy was a graduate of Hague Central School, where he played on the championship basketball team. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean War throughout the United States and Europe.

He then worked for the telephone company for 42 years and served as a union rep for the Communications Workers of America (C.W.A.) until his retirement in 1997. While working for the telephone company, he worked in New York City during the blackout and also installed telecommunication systems during the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

Mr. Stacy was a resident of Ticonderoga for most of his life and was a communicant of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Ticonderoga.

He was an active member of the Ticonderoga community - serving on the Village Board, a founding member of the Ticonderoga Booster Club and a volunteer for Ticonderoga Little League, St. Mary’s Church (bingo) and a Boy Scout leader.

He especially loved his home and family.

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Maureen L. (McLaughlin) Stacy; four sons, Robert A. Stacy and his wife Susan of Avon, Conn., John B. Stacy and his wife Shirl of Adirondack, Joseph P. Stacy and his wife Hilda of Chestertown and Carlton E. Stacy III and his wife Kimberley of the U.S. Marines, Camp Pendelton, Calif.; one daughter, Julie Ann Stacy of Troy; two brothers, Victor Stacy of Ticonderoga and Lee Stacy of New Britain, Conn.; two sisters, Mable Jordon and her husband Chuck of Glens Falls and Ida Jordon and her husband Jeff of Hague. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Vanessa, Kaitlin, Margaret, Hannah, Anola, Sierra Rose, Taylor, Gabriella, Hayden, Tracie, Kim and Nicole; and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga.

A funeral service will take place Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Peter Pagones (cousin of his wife) will officiate.

Donations in Mr. Stacy’s memory may be made to the Carlton Stacy Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 266, Ticonderoga, NY 12883.

Plattsburgh — Mrs. Catherine Martin, 85, of Military Turnpike, died Thursday, June 17, 2004, at the Clinton County Nursing Home in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Plattsburgh on Sept. 6, 1918, daughter of the late William and Theresa (Martineau) Collins.

Catherine was a former member of the Treadwells Mills Senior Citizens and St. Joseph's Church in Treadwells Mills. Catherine was an extremely hard worker. She worked for the Cumberland Hotel, Pal Blade and the Aranac Ribbon Mill. Catherine owned and operated Kay's Cantine for many years and also bartended at Fanny's Tavern. She also operated the Branham's Grocery Store and the Seymour's Grocery Store.

Catherine is survived by one daughter and a son-in-law, Gloria and Gerald Spooner of West Chazy; three sons and one daughter-in-law, Harold "Sam" and Jennifer Martin of West Chazy, Alvin "Mucker" Martin of Plattsburgh and Gary Martin and his companion Linda Davis of Colchester, Vt.; six grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She is predeceased by her husband Harold; two infant daughters; one son, Joseph; four sisters; two brothers; and a daughter-in-law, Millie.

Calling hours will be Saturday, June 19, 2004, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. from the Brown Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Treadwells Mills Cemetery in Treadwells Mills.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Clinton County Nursing Home Patient's Fund.

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