Published: 3/14/05

ORANGE, Va. — Clarence Patrick Lynch, 97, of Locust Grove, Va., and formerly of South Catherine Street, Plattsburgh, passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at the Orange County Nursing Home in Orange, Va.

He was born on July 27, 1907, son of the late Patrick and Mary Ann (McCabe) Lynch.

Pat was a graduate of St. John’s Academy and attended Notre Dame University. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as a photographer. Pat retired as a supervisor at the Post Office at Plattsburgh Air Force Base. He was an avid gardener, fisherman, and a Jack-of-all-trades. Pat was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #255 in Plattsburgh, the Plattsburgh Elks Lodge in Plattsburgh, and a member of the American Legion Post #20 in Plattsburgh.

Pat is survived by two very special nieces that were like his daughters, Karen Brusca and her husband, John, of Modesto, Calif., and Mary McFarland and her husband, Daniel, of Locust Grove, Va.; his other nieces and nephews, Robert Lynch of Scotia, John Lynch of Lake George, Marlene Delaney of Ocala, Fla., Mary Thomas of Lake Luzerne, Joseph Torre of Sayville, and Roseann Porcellini of Florida.

Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday from St. John’s Church in Plattsburgh. Burial will be later in the year in Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Pat’s memory may be made to St. John’s Endowment Fund.

CADYVILLE — Mrs. Helen Bird, 91, of Rabideau Street, Cadyville, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, March 12, 2005, at her home.

She was born in Morrisonville on April 13, 1913, the daughter of Henry and Helen (Martineau) Martineau.

Helen was a member of the Senior Citizens Council and St. James Church.

She was predeceased by her parents, Henry and Helen Martineau; her husband, Lester J. Bird; a daughter, Joan Bird, who died as an infant; her brothers, Henry and Francis Martineau; and her sisters, Edna Martineau, Marie Masella and Evangeline O’Hara.

Helen is survived by a son, Lester Bird, and his wife, Beverly, of Temple, Texas; two daughters, Joanne Rock and her husband, Walter, of Panama City, Fla., and Sandra Geppner and her husband, Legrand, of Morrisonville; a niece and nephew, Camille and Cheryl Garrant of West Chazy; six granddaughters; two grandsons; 22 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be from noon to 12:45 Wednesday at the Brown Funeral Home, Park Row, Cadyville. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Wednesday from St. James Church in Cadyville. Burial will be later in the year in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

PORT HENRY — Earl W. Welch, 86, of Port Henry, died Saturday, March 12, 2005, at the Horace Nye Nursing Home in Elizabethtown.

He was born May 8, 1918, in Fair Haven, Vt., the son of Erin and Julia (Martin) Welch. Earl was a veteran of World War II. He was retired from Republican Steel Corporation in Mineville.

He is survived by his children, Joan Tryon, Elizabeth Santorell, Nancy Jacobs, Tammy Gregory, Penny Welch, Howard Welch, Earl Welch Jr., Raymond Welch, Stanley Welch, Michael Welch and Theresa Spear; his brother, William Welch of Fair Haven, Vt.; 37 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. His wife, Elizabeth (Sausville) Welch, died Jan. 11, 1979.

Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday at the Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry. A funeral service will follow at 4 p.m. at the funeral home. Spring burial will be in Union Cemetery.

WILLSBORO — Raymond L. Mero, 83, of West Road, Willsboro, died Friday, March 11, 2005.

He was born in Willsboro, the son of George and Angeline Mero, on April 19, 1921. He was a member of the St. Philip’s Catholic Church and for a number of years served as a trustee.

He served in the Army Air Corp during World War II and received an honorable discharge in 1946. After his service years, he worked in the building business prior to starting at Cabot Corp., which is now NYCO. He retired from NYCO in 1984 as plant superintendent.

He was a life member of the Willsboro Fire Department, where he helped start the Rescue Squad, taught first aid to the squad members and co-signed the note for the first ambulance. He served as a member of the Willsboro Planning Board, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus #7461, the BPOE #2072, past commander of the American Legion Post #405 and an active member of the Willsboro Golf Course.

Mr. Mero is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Young) Mero, whom he married Sept. 16, 1946; three children and their spouses, John and Anne Mero of North Clarendon, Vt., Tom and Joan Mero of Dunkirk, Md., and Karen and Allen Hachigian of Keeseville; eight grandchildren, Joseph and Jessica Mero of Clarendon, Nicole Mero-Dutil and her husband, Chad, of Beekmantown, Annette Mero of Clarendon, Travis and Janifa Mero of Silverthorne, Colo., Carrie Mero of Raleigh, N.C., Jared, Jess, and Alexa Hachigian; and two great-grandchildren, Mitchel Mero of Clarendon, and Maleena Mero of Silverthorne.

Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Huestis Funeral Home in Willsboro. A fireman’s service will be held at 7:15 p.m. and an Elks service will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be held at St. Philip’s Church in Willsboro at 2 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery at a later date. Donations in his memory may be made to the Willsboro Rescue Squad.

WITHERBEE — Frank J. Dembrosky, 79, passed away at the Horace Nye Nursing Home on March 13, 2005. He was born Sept. 22, 1925, in Witherbee, the son of John and Anna Dembrosky.

He is survived by a sister, Frances Deresky, of Mineville; a nephew, John M. Deresky of Keeseville; and nieces Janice A. Dawson of Champlain and Deborah Smith of Hamburg, N.Y. He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Joseph J. Dembrosky, and a sister, Mary Fernandez.

Frank graduated from Mineville in 1945. Following high school, he spent four years in the Army Air Corp where he was a radio operator aboard a B-29. On completion of World War II and his release from active duty, he attended Albany State Teachers College where he received his teaching certificate. Frank started his teaching career in Stony Point, taught one year in Saranac Lake, and completed his teaching career in Port Henry High School and Moriah Central School, where he taught math and for a time was assistant principal. He taught for 33 years. Following retirement in 1980, he enjoyed hiking and traveling.

There will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of All Saints in Mineville. Burial will be in the spring in St. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Moriah. Donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or to the Town of Moriah Ambulance Squad. Arrangements are with the Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry.

EVA H. BURNELL LaHAIE, 79, of 61 Webster St., Malone, died Saturday, March 12, 2005, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone.

Born in Westville, Feb. 28, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Loretta (Blair) Burnell.

There are no calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph’s Church in Malone. Burial will be in the old St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fort Covington, in the spring. Arrangements are through the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Service, Inc., of Malone.

LUELLA MABEL EMIGH, 102, formerly of Lake Street, Saranac Lake, died Saturday, March 12, 2005, at Mercy Healthcare in Tupper Lake.

Born in Oneida, N.Y., on June 28, 1902, she was the daughter of Earl and Lillie (Graham) Dutton.

Visitation will be held at Fortune-Keough Funeral Home from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday. The funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home with a family friend, the Rev. Steven Smith, pastor of the East Parkway United Methodist Church in Schenectady, officiating. Burial will be at North Elba Cemetery in Lake Placid in May.

MARY ROSE WHITE, 89, of Freeport, Texas, died Friday, March 11, 2005, at her home

She was born July 4, 1915, in Malone, to Joseph and Caroline (Trombley) Chapple.

Calling hours will be 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. Thursday in the St. Mary-Murphy Funeral Home chapel. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Notre Dame Church. Spring burial will take place in Notre Dame Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are through St. Mary-Murphy Funeral Home, Inc., of Malone.

DONALD J. COOPER, 71, of Malone, died Saturday, March 12, 2005, at Alice Hyde Medical Center.

He was born June 29, 1922, in Brushton, a son of Charles and Julia (Montroy) Cooper.

Calling hours will be held from 2:30 to 4 and 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Spaulding Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Notre Dame Church. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

FRANCES E. LaPIERRE, 84, of Monty Street, Plattsburgh, died Sunday, March 13, 2005, at the Prattville Baptist Health Center in Pratville.

She was born in Plattsburgh on Oct. 7, 1920, the daughter of Charles and Eva (Mousseau) Andrews.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 9 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Victory Church. Burial will take place later in the year in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

LEO HEMINGWAY, 69, of Mooers Forks, died Saturday, March 12, 2005, at the Highland Regional Medical Center in Sebring, Fla.

Arrangements are incomplete with E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Mooers and will appear in Tuesday’s Press-Republican.

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

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