Published: 10/29/04

Peru — Thelma S. Lea, 91, of Harbor View Road, South Burlington, Vt., and formerly of Peru, N.Y., died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004, at her home in South Burlington, Vt.

She was born in Peru, N.Y., May 3, 1913, the daughter of Dr. Edwin and Elva (Evans) Sartwell.

Thelma lived with Hulda, her beloved and loyal German Shepherd dog, in the Peru farmhouse where she raised her family. She loved all animals. The daughter of a dedicated country doctor, Thelma always had a special place in her heart for the vulnerable and disadvantaged.

A 1936 graduate of Wellesley College, she highly valued learning, education and personal commitment. Thelma taught chemistry at private schools, Plattsburgh State University and Beekmantown Central School. She loved her students and believed in the ability of each and every one. Thelma worked endlessly to finance the college education of her four sons and was especially proud that all successfully graduated.

Thelma always stayed informed regarding current and global affairs. She was well read, wise and open minded. She lived true to her personal values and was always respectful to the beliefs of others. She was determined to fulfill her last civil duty and registered a strong vote for Kerry/Edwards. In another life, Thelma has or will be a famous international journalist.

Thelma was unconditionally loyal to her family and friends. Like many of her time, she wasted little, asked for less, gave everything and made the world a better place.

Thelma was a progressive thinker and doer, serving as a mentor and role model for young people, especially young women, who are committed to making a positive difference in the world. Thelma represented a special combination of clear values, strong determination and old time class and eloquence.

She is survived by four sons and three daughters-in-law, Tracy Lea of Gretna, La., Dean and Deb Lea of Grand Isle, Vt., Scott and Karen Lea of Bluebell, Pa., and Kirk and Carol Lea of Monkton, Vt.; six grandchildren, Megan, Catherine, Evan, Dustin, Kelsey and Jennifer; a sister, Barbara Mullen of Peru; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Glen Lea; a grandson, Weston Lea; a daughter-in-law, Marilyn Lea; and a brother-in-law, Irving "Stu" Mullen.

There will be no public calling hours. A funeral service will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Peru Community Church with Rev. Dr. Robert Svenson, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the Peru Cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Peru Community Church, Elm Street, Peru, NY 12972, or the Adirondack Humane Society, Inc. Shelter, 134 Idaho Ave., Plattsburgh, NY 12903.

Arrangements are by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru.

QUEENSBURY — Richard Edward Gratton, 80, (formerly of Dix Avenue, Queensbury) died in Glens Falls Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004, after a long illness.

Born on Nov. 7, 1923, he was the son of the late Edward and Helen (Jensen) Gratton.

He attended grammar school at the Imperial School until 1937 and graduated from Glens Falls High School in 1941.

After graduation, Richard attended Clarkson College of Technology in Potsdam.

From June of 1943 until April of 1946, he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in the European Theatre, during World War II.

On Sept. 16, 1944, he married the former June Eleanor LaPoint in St. Mary’s Church in Glens Falls.

In 1948, he received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Clarkson. Mr. Gratton began his engineering career with the General Electric Company in Schenectady and concluded it at the Hudson Falls/Fort Edward plant, where he was the facilities engineer for 25 years, until his retirement in 1978. For a few interim years, he worked at Glens Falls Portland Cement Company.

Mr. Gratton was a member of Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honorary Association and a senior member of AIEE/IEEE Professional Engineering Society. He was a past institutional representative for St. Mary’s Academy to the Boy Scouts of America, Pioneer District.

He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Knights of Columbus, South Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company, 150 and Good Timers Bowling League, co-founder of the Queensbury Volunteer Fireman’s Bowling League and of the GE Hackers Gold Club.

As a young man, Richard enjoyed hunting and fishing. In later life, he spent time golfing, bowling and doing home improvement projects. In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, reading 20th century history, studying political science and geography. He was known as a mathematical "nut" but his greatest enjoyment and pride was his love of family.

Survivors in addition to his wife of 60 years, June E. Gratton, include his son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Gina Gratton of West Chazy; two granddaughters, Whitney and Meredith Gratton of West Chazy; a brother-in-law, Richard LaPoint of Chicago, Ill.; two nieces, Susanne and Lisa LaPoint of Chicago; a nephew, David LaPoint of Chicago; and six cousins, Betty Duell, Eva Brown and Emma Johnson of Queensbury, Fred Prince of Burnt Hills, N.Y., Donald Sondergaard of Long Beach, N.Y., and Frances Palecek of New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Friends may call Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main St., Hudson Falls.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Mary’s Church on Warren Street in Glens Falls, with the Rev. Joseph Xavier, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Fort Edward, officiating.

The Rite of Committal will take place in Pine View Cemetery in the town of Queensbury.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Heart Assoc., P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220 or the American Lung Association of NE NY, 3 Winners Circle, Suite 300, Albany, NY 12205-1187 or the American Cancer Society, 959 Route 9, Mount Royal Plaza, Queensbury, NY 12804.

Ticonderoga — Theodore G. "Ted" teRiele, 72, of Mt. Hope Avenue, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004, at the Fletcher Allen Health Care Center of Burlington, Vt.

Born in Deventer, Holland, Jan. 20, 1932, he was the son of the late Theodore W. and Henderika (Leerkes) teRiele.

Ted immigrated to America with his family from Deventer, Holland, on Oct. 2, 1952.

In Holland, he attended horticulture school. He carried his knowledge of gardening to the states, making his living as a florist, gardener and farmer.

He had been a resident of Ticonderoga for many years. He was employed as the caretaker at the King’s Garden of Fort Ticonderoga for 25 years. He also established Dutchie’s Floral & Garden Center of Ticonderoga. Most recently he was a self-employed painter and contractor, a business he operated with his sons, Paul and Tim.

Mr. teRiele was a communicant of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Ticonderoga where he served as usher. He was a member of the St. Isaac Jogues Council 333 Knights of Columbus.

Ted was involved in local politics in the Ticonderoga community and enjoyed traveling and socializing.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by one brother, Antoon G. teRiele.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Catherine E. "Tillie" (Snow) teRiele; two daughters, Irma Jeanne Bevilacqua and her husband Lawrence of Rome, N.Y., and Christine Marie Ross and her husband David of Ticonderoga; four sons, Theodore G. teRiele Jr. of Saratoga, Peter D. teRiele and his wife Malissa of Oceanside, Calif., Paul D. teRiele of Ticonderoga and Artemus "Tim" teRiele of Ticonderoga; five brothers, William G. teRiele of Georgia, Bernard J. teRiele of Selkirk, John G. teRiele of Ticonderoga, Gerard J. teRiele and Josef M. teRiele, both of Canton; four sisters, Alberdina (Diny) Vilemaire of Cumberland Head, Gertrada (Truus) Thompson of Canton, Maria (Mary) Vigliotti of Ticonderoga and Henderika (Ricky) Strew of W. Hartford, Vt. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Ticonderoga. The Rev. William G. Muench, pastor, will officiate.

The Rite of Committal will follow at the family plot of St. Mary’s Parish Cemetery of Ticonderoga.

Colchester, Vt. — Lee H. Lawton, 61, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his home on Oct. 27, 2004, after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was a hardworking man of humility, compassion, loyalty and determination.

Lee was born in Lincoln, R.I., on March 20, 1943, to the late Henry William and Ida Mae (Crompton) Lawton.

Lee moved to Vermont in 1969 where he met the love of his life, Lorilee Ann Noyes. They met in August and were married on Dec. 6, 1969. Their marriage was based on love, friendship and partnership for 35 years. Together they started Red Hed Supply, Inc. in 1972, a waterworks distributorship that served Vermont, New Hampshire and Northern New York. While at Red Hed, Lee served on the Board of Directors of the Associated General Contractors of Vermont. In 1992, Lee and Lori started Firetech Sprinkler Corp., a fire protection contractor based in Colchester, Vt. In 2001, Lee and Lori sold Red Hed Supply to a national waterworks distributor. Lee was a respected mentor, teacher and friend to those who worked with him at both companies.

Lee was a lifelong 4-H member and supporter. As a teen, he traveled to New Zealand through the 4-H International Farm Youth Exchange Program. Lee was a man of many talents and interests that ranged from tree farming to maple sugaring to machine repair. A farmer at heart, his leisure time was spent on his John Deere farm tractor. He has been a member of the Ethan Allen Club since 1984 and the Ethan Allen Masonic Lodge 72.

Lee’s greatest joy was spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife, Lorilee Ann (Noyes) of Colchester; his daughter, Deborah Ann of Boston, Mass.; and his son, Jeffrey Lee of Denver, Colo.

He was predeceased by his twin sons, James Henry and Jeffrey Philip, who died in infancy on Aug. 16, 1971.

Lee is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Peg Lawton of Lincoln, R.I.; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Philip Sr. and Margaret Noyes of Essex Junction, Vt.; his sister-in-law, Beverly Noyes of Grand Isle, Vt.; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Philip Jr. and Lorrie Noyes of Essex Junction, Vt., and their children, Cory and Jenna; his niece, Diane Robillard and her family of Nashua, N.H.; his cousin, Muriel Andreoni and her family of Lincoln, R.I.; and his aunts, Ruth Lund of Saco, Maine, and Bertha Crompton of Lincoln, R.I.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, 38 So. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Following the service, there will be a celebration of Lee’s life at his home in Colchester. Burial will be private and there will be no visiting hours.

In Lee’s memory, donations may be made to Hospice of Champlain Valley, 1110 Prim Rd., Colchester, VT 05446.

Arrangements are in the care of The Ready Funeral and Cremation Services, Burlington. For on-line condolences, please visit www.readyfuneral.com.

Chateaugay — Francis D. Rondo, 77, of Chateaugay, died Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone.

He was born in Ellenburg on Sept. 21, 1927, the son of David and Irene (Miller) Rondo.

He owned and operated a dairy farm for over 30 years and also worked in construction for over 30 years.

He is survived by his wife, the former Shirley Honsinger; three sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Helen Rondo of Copake, N.Y., Randy and Kim Rondo of Burke and Rickey and Kristen Rondo of Sheldon, Vt.; a daughter, Debra Pritchard of Clifton Park; a brother-in-law, Francis Fisher of Malone; four grandchildren, Allison, Chelsea, Dillon and Brianne; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents and a sister, Marie Fisher, died before him.

There will be no calling hours. Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in Whispering Maples Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Ellenburg Depot.

Memorial donations may be made to the Chateaugay Fire Department.

The E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Ellenburg Depot is in charge of arrangements.

Carrollton, Texas — Margaret Fraser, 71, formerly of Plattsburgh, N.Y., passed away Oct. 24, 2004, in Carrollton, Texas.

Margaret was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 597. She loved life, golf, reading and spending time with family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband of over 35 years, Ken Fraser.

Margaret is survived by her daughter, Donna Allen and Tom Engel from Carrollton, Texas; sons Larry Bourey and Donna Rowe from Saranac Lake, N.Y., Peter and Linda Bourey from Raleigh, N.C., and Mike and Kelly Bourey from Corinth, Texas; and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service to honor Margaret’s life was held on Tuesday, Oct. 26, at Rhoton Funeral Home in Carrollton, Texas.

Madelon Kilkeary of Pittsburgh, Pa., died Oct. 27, 2004.

She was born in Pittsburgh on Dec. 26, 1911.

Funeral services will be held Saturday in Pittsburgh.

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