Published: 12/10/04

Ticonderoga — Former Ticonderoga Village Mayor, Virginia Rose Smith, who was known to her many friends and family throughout her entire long life as simply "Babe," left this world on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004. She was 86 years old. At the time of her death she was being cared for in the Interlakes Nursing Home in Ticonderoga.

She was born in Ticonderoga during the First World War on Oct. 8, 1918, to Frank and Guissepina (Scicchitano) Olivadotti, who came to America from Amaroni, Calabria, Italy, in 1912.

During the Great Depression, her parents owned the Burleigh House Hotel and Restaurant in Ticonderoga and later the Roma Restaurant, which she ran for many years with her husband, Paul, and where she was renowned as one of the best Italian chefs in the North Country.

Babe lead a very active life and was always involved in the Ticonderoga community. She was the first female life insurance agent in Northern New York and the first female mayor of the Village of Ticonderoga.

She attended Marymount College and graduated from Albany Business College in 1939. She played basketball, baseball and tennis while in high school and college. During World War II, she worked as a USO hostess in Albany and volunteered as a Red Cross nurse at Moses-Ludington Hospital. She also served as an air raid warden and a plane spotter.

Babe was a Democratic Party committee woman since 1960 and was very active in North Country politics for many years. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, Court of St. Mary’s 794 of Ticonderoga for over 50 years and gave many hours in support of St. Mary’s School and Church of Ticonderoga.

She was married to the late Paul Victor Smith, who died in 1990. She was also predeceased by one son, Frances "Smitty" Smith, who passed away in 1992; and by one sister, Mary Forsythe; and two brothers, Billy Labatore and Joe Lebretore.

Four of her five children and their spouses and her nine grandchildren survive her: Paul Victor Smith and his wife Anne of Chelmsford, Mass., and their children, Alan and David; Ann Tanyeri of Chelmsford, Mass., and her children, Bill, Aylin and Mete; William J. Smith and his wife Joanne of Wappingers Falls and their children, Marty and Karen; and Margaret Buer and her husband Gary of Cary, N.C., and their children, Karl and Darren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

She is in Heaven now, but she will never be forgotten by all of the family and friends who loved her, laughed with her, argued and fought with her and always enjoyed her good cooking. If there is a God in Heaven, then Babe is there with him now.

Relatives and friends may call Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday at 10:30 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.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Mary’s School, Amherst Avenue, Ticonderoga, NY 12883.

Plattsburgh — Ruth M. Adams, 77, of Cogan Avenue, Plattsburgh, passed away on Monday, Dec. 6, 2004, at her home after a long illness.

She was born in Albany, N.Y., on May 21, 1927, daughter of Thomas John and Florence (Oliver) Collins.

Ruth was a licensed real estate broker, retiring in 1980.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Edward L. Adams. They were married in 1945.

Also survived by her children, Thomas E. Adams and his wife Cathy, Daniel Adams and his wife Susan, Beverly Harrigan and her husband Peter of Plattsburgh and B.J. Adams and his wife Kelly of Beaufort, S.C.; eight grandchildren, Edward T. Adams, Becca Adams, Danielle Adams Mehlman, Kristen, Jessica and Sean Harrigan and Stacy and Mark Adams; five great-grandchildren, Thomas E. Adams, Katie Adams, Alexa Mehlman, Quinn Mehlman and Daniel A. Adams.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday, Dec. 13, 2004, at 10 a.m. from St. Peter’s Church in Plattsburgh. Burial will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

Remembrances may be made to Hospice of the North Country.

Arrangements with Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Mooers — Keith C. Hogle, 92, of Mooers, died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh. He was born in Phillipsburg, Quebec, on Feb. 6, 1912, the son of Darrel and Elsie (Stevenson) Hogle.

He was employed by Ralph Lewis for 38 years and retired as manager of Champlain Hardware. He was also employed by Dragoon's in Mooers for over 17 years. For many years, Mr. Hogle also worked for several local funeral directors.

He was the last surviving founding member of the Mooers Fire Department and was an active participant in the annual barbecue for many years. He was a member of the Mooers United Methodist Church and was a former trustee and stewardship committee member. He was also a former chairman and trustee of Riverside Cemetery in Mooers. He enjoyed gardening and bird watching.

He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Darrel and Margaret Chevalier of West Columbia, S.C., and Keith and Jean Hogle of Yuma, Ariz.; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Muriel and Clifton Gamache of Mooers, Norma Jean and Tom LaMere of Baldwinsville and Lyla Hogle of Laurel, Md.; a sister, Marion Ratliff of Plattsburgh; a longtime friend, Bernice Boire of Champlain; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.

His wife, Beulah Hogle, died in 1987. Two sons, Larry and Carlton; five brothers, Donald, James, Hugh, George and Linn; two sisters, Helen Drown and Anna Austin; and a grandson, Larry Hogle, also died earlier.

Calling hours will be held on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Mooers. The Mooers Fire Department will meet at 7 p.m. at the funeral home for services. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday from the Mooers United Methodist Church. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in Mooers.

Memorial donations may be made to the Mooers Fire Department or the Mooers United Methodist Church.

Plattsburgh — Eileen Segriff, 83, of Clinton County Nursing Home, Plattsburgh, died Friday, Dec. 3, 2004, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in New York City on Dec. 31, 1920, the daughter of Owen and Ella McGlone.

For many years, Mrs. Segriff lived in Saranac Lake and was employed as a telephone operator at Raybrook Tuberculosis Hospital in Raybrook, N.Y. She was last employed in that same capacity at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, N.Y.

Mrs. Segriff is predeceased by her husband, Joseph F. Segriff, who died in 1970.

She is survived by one son, Dr. Joseph M. Segriff, a professor at New Jersey City University.

Calling hours will be Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will follow at 4 p.m. from the Brown Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. William Reamer, chaplain at CVPH, officiating. Interment will be held at a later date in St. Bernard's Cemetery in Saranac Lake.

Mrs. Segriff had a love for dogs, so anyone wishing to make a donation in her memory may do so to the Clinton County Humane Society.

PLATTSBURGH — Roger C. Thompson, 64, of Genesee Lane, died Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center.

He was born in Lincoln, Vt., on June 28, 1940, the son of Ralph and Ida (Cram) Thompson.

Roger served in Korea with the U.S. Amy in the early 1960s.

Mr. Thompson worked for National Cash Register for over 30 years, retiring in 1994. He then worked for the Plattsburgh Press-Republican from 1997 until now.

Roger was an avid gardener, tenacious at crossword puzzles and enjoyed his family pets.

Survivors include his love, Mary Anne Sullivan of Stowe, Vt.; one daughter and son-in-law, Mitzi and Steve Bonhomme of Plattsburgh; two brothers, Marvin and wife Trudy Thompson of Phoenix, Ariz., and Fred and wife Eleanor Thompson of Lincoln, Vt.; three sisters, Wanda Goodyear of Lincoln, Vt., Marie Rhodes of Middlebury, Vt., and Karlene and husband Marcel Gagnon of Schenectady, N.Y.; and two granddaughters, Kayla and Karen Bonhomme of Plattsburgh.

He was predeceased by one adult sister, Gwen Dearborn; and three infants, brother Delwin and twins, Norma and Norman.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

A funeral service will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Assembly of God Church in Plattsburgh.

Burial will be at a later date in the spring.

Memorial donations may be made to the Adirondack Humane Society or the Champlain Valley Heart Center at the CVPH Medical Center.

James R. Lancto, 71, died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Calling hours will be on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the M.B. Clark Funeral Home in Champlain. A funeral service will follow at the funeral home at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

A full obituary will appear in the Saturday Press-Republican.

To contact the Press-Republican, Phone: (518) 561-2300 or send mail to:
Press-Republican, 170 Margaret St., P.O. Box 459, Plattsburgh, NY 12901

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