Published: 9/10/04

Fairview, Ore. — Madonna Jean Rombach was born Jan. 22, 1934, in Red Lake Falls, Minn. She attended Catholic grade school and graduated from Mt. St. Benedict in Crookston, Minn., in 1951. After graduation Madonna moved to Warroad, Minn., to live with her sister Aurora. She met George Everett Rombach in December 1951. They married on June 1, 1952. Madonna settled into life on a farm and soon gave birth to Douglas — 1954, Pamela – 1955, Cynthia –1960 and Joy – 1963. She played the organ at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Warroad.

In 1966 George and Madonna moved their family to Portland, Ore. They first settled in southeast Portland where she played the organ at St. Peter's Church, worked at Mt. Scott Drug Store and then an accountant's office. In July 1968 George and Madonna purchased a home in Gresham. Madonna worked at several jobs including a bookkeeper at Miller Fence and a waitress at Burns Brothers, The Orchard, Krueger's, Pa's Kettle and The Plum Tree. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and in later years gardening and cross-stitching.

George and Madonna moved to their current home in August 2000. Over the next few years they enjoyed transforming their house into a home, where Madonna had her new dream kitchen built and worked with her daughters to enhance the existing gardens.

In January 2003 she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Over the next 18 months she was treated by a compassionate and caring medical support staff. She had a fierce will to live and a strong faith in God. She maintained a positive attitude with a keen sense of humor and was an inspiration to all whose lives she touched. In July 2004, she began a one-month decline that ultimately took her life. She fought to the very end to live and maintained her loving, nurturing way and her sense of humor until just hours before her death. She passed away quietly and went home to the Lord at 4 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 20, 2004, in the home she loved, with family at her side.

Throughout her life Madonna contributed much of her time and resources to those in need. If you would like to help continue her charity work, please send checks payable to Madonna Rombach Charity Fund, P.O. Box 879, Fairview, OR 97024.

She leaves behind her husband of 52 years, George; son Douglas; daughters Pamela, Cynthia and Joy; grandchildren Jennifer, Anthony, Kevin, Phillip, Curtis and Rebecca; great-grandchildren Kara, Brianna and Nicholas; sisters Aurora, Doris, Gladys and Cecilia; and "grand-dogs" Sheri, Taz and Bailey.

She was preceded in death by parents Dona and Virginia Houle; sister JoAnn Hovald and brother Lawrence (Sonny) Houle.

Plattsburgh — Mrs. Shirley T. Billups, 74, of Palmer Street, Plattsburgh, N.Y., passed away suddenly Sept. 9, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in Melrose, Mass., on Feb. 8, 1930, the daughter of Edward and Edna (Jones) Richardson. Shirley had worked for the Plattsburgh City School District retiring from the cafeteria at Broad Street School after 28 years of service. She volunteered extensively at the United Methodist Church and the Interfaith Food Shelf.

She was predeceased by her parents; a son, Craig Billups; her siblings, Howard, Edward, Ruth and Mildred.

Shirley is survived by her husband of 53 years, Allen "Al" Billups of Plattsburgh; a daughter, Randy Ladue of Plattsburgh; a son, Ken Billups and his wife Kristie of Plattsburgh and their children, Nathan, Treye and Drew; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be from 9 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Clark Callender, pastor, officiating.

Interment will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

Friends wishing may make donations to the Interfaith Food Shelf.

Long Beach, Calif. — Leslee Ann Fitts of 3310 Curry St., Long Beach, Calif., passed away on Sept. 1, 2004, at Lakewood Medical Center, Lakewood, Calif., after a short illness.

Leslee was born on March 4, 1952, in Plattsburgh, N.Y., the daughter of Helen (Hard) and George Fitts of Rouses Point.

Her survivors include one sister, Molly (Fitts) and husband Ben Taylor; one brother, Adrian and wife Gloria Fitts of Rouses Point; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents, Helen and George Fitts; and her brother, Buzz Fitts of Long Beach, Calif.

A memorial service was held at the First Southern Baptist Church of Lakewood, Lakewood, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 4.

A burial service will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Benson, Vt., at 1 p.m. Saturday Sept. 18.

Donations in Leslee's memory may be made to Hillside Enterprises, a division of ARC, Long Beach in care of Adrian Fitts, 8 Chapman St., Rouses Point, NY 12979.

Crown Point — Clyde Woods, 83, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, at his home in Crown Point.

He was born in Moriah on Aug. 16, 1921, the son of the late Judson and Almina (Sprague) Woods.

He was predeceased by his parents; his foster parents, Harold and Euretta (Hendrix) Sprague; and four brothers, Ray, Clifton, Alden and Cecil.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Muriel (Sprague) Woods; and nine children. His children include Harold and Virginia Woods of Crown Point, Judith and Jack Napper of Westport, Susan and Roger Pidgeon of Middlebury, Vt., Craig Woods of Dundee, Fla., Daniel Woods of Kissimmee, Fla., Kenneth Woods of Crown Point, Jean and David Payne of Crown Point, Anna and Nick Elliot of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Mary and John O'Hara of Groton, Conn.

Mr. Woods is also survived by 16 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Woods was raised and attended school in Crown Point. He ran a dairy farm and greenhouse business in Crown Point for many years. He also logged and ran a truck farm. He spent many years as a member of the Crown Point School Board of Education, including several years as president of the board. He was also a member of the B.O.C.E.S. school board. Since his retirement he enjoyed hunting and fishing until health concerns limited his activities.

There will be no calling hours and no public burial.

Edward H. Bulriss, 78, of Mooers, died Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Arrangements were incomplete Thursday evening at the E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Mooers.

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