Published: 11/11/04

Nov. 26, 1924 - Nov. 9, 2004

Port Henry — After a long battle with heart disease, Joyce E. Brooks of Lakeview Avenue, Port Henry, passed away peacefully on Nov. 9, 2004, at the Elizabethtown Community Hospital.

She was loved by all that knew her and will be greatly missed.

She had six children and was a great homemaker and mother. With the help of her husband Robert, Joyce operated Adirondack Creations in Port Henry. She attended many craft shows across the state and was a wizard with pine cones and dried flowers. She had her work displayed at many craft shops in and around the North Country.

One of her favorite remembered events was a display on the Bicentennial Barge at Crown Point in 1976. Frog Hollow Craft Center in Middlebury, Vt., and Eagle Mills, N.Y., were two other favorites.

Joyce also worked for the U.S. Census Bureau twice during the 1980s and the U.S. Olympic Committee Head Food Vending Coordinator in 1980 in Lake Placid for the Winter Olympics.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Robert J. (Red) Brooks; six children; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren; Linda and Eddie Lewis of Wynantskill, N.Y., James Brooks and Mary Gagnon, of Crown Point, N.Y., Renee Hughes of Lake Placid, N.Y., Leslie and Charles Hurley of Gilroy, Calif., Susan and Paul Cutting of Crown Point, N.Y., and John Brooks of Port Henry, N.Y.

She was predeceased by her parents, Clarence and Alta Williams; and her brother, Robert Williams.

There will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday, Nov. 12, 2004, at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, Port Henry, with Monsignor John McAvoy officiating. Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Town of Moriah Ambulance Squad or the Port Henry Fire Department.

Plattsburgh — Rita U. Hahn, 82, of Plattsburgh, died Monday, Nov. 8, 2004, at the Meadowbrook Heathcare Facility in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Redford on Aug. 4, 1922, the daughter of Louis and Ursula (Supernant) Racette.

She enjoyed embroidery, reading, watching westerns on television and being with her family.

She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Tamara Hahn of Gorham, Maine, Tanley and Carolyn Hahn of Keeseville and Larry and Susan Hahn of Plattsburgh; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jeanne and John Bennink of Plattsburgh and Gail and Harris Kagan of Foxboro, Mass.; a brother, Jerry Racette of Redford; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Sister Agnes Racette of Our Lady of Victory Convent, Plattsburgh, Olive and Reginald Burdo of Beekmantown and Genevieve Strong of Virginia; five grandchildren, Gary Hahn Jr., Lee Anna Hahn, Gerald Kagan, Tara Nelson and Jeffrey Cross; and a great-grandson, Alexander Nelson.

Her husband, Gerald James Hahn, died on Aug. 21, 1983. Three brothers, Bernard, Armond and Roland Racette; and a sister, Bernadette Hughes, died before her.

Calling hours and funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in St. Peter's Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the North Country.

The O’Neill-Redden-Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh is in charge of arrangements.

Louisville, Ky. — James "Jim" E. Olson, 56, died at University Hospital in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 9, 2004.

He was born in Warren, Pa., and was retired.

He was a member of the U.S. Air Force and served in Vietnam.

He is survived by his son, John Winters and a stepson, Jason Arnold; a daughter, Kristen "Krissy" Parker and her husband Josh; a sister-in-law, Debbie Taylor and her husband Kevin; his mother-in-law, Rosie Taylor; and granddaughters Hailey and Kallie Parker.

He was predeceased in death by his wife, Janie (Taylor) Olson.

Visiting hours will be held at the Owen Funeral Home, 5317 Dixie Highway, Louisville, Ky., on Thursday, from noon to 9 p.m., and on Friday from 10 a.m. until the funeral service at noon. Burial will take place at the Bethany Memorial Cemetery.

Donations in Jim’s memory may be made to Boys Town or a favorite charity.

Ralph D. Walker, 75, of 5918 Route 374, Chateaugay Lake, died Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone. He had been a patient there since Monday, Nov. 8th.

Born in Nutley, N.J., June 21, 1929, he was the son of the late Ralph and Ruth (Kadus) Walker.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone. A funeral service will be held Friday at 10 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Morningside Cemetery in Malone.

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

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