Published: 5/1/05

Peru — Beatrice B. Criss, 83, of the CVPH Medical Center Skilled Nursing Facility and formerly of Apple Valley Senior Housing, Peru, died Friday, April 29, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in Ticonderoga, Dec. 1, 1921, the daughter of Harry and Lenora (Hulbert) Barber.

She married William L. Criss Sept. 12, 1946, in Plattsburgh. He died July 22, 2002.

She was a former member of the Keeseville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1505, Ladies Auxiliary and the Eastern Star. She was also a past member of the Ladies of the Elks.

Beatrice enjoyed cooking, dancing and playing cards.

Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Rocky Dion of Keeseville; three grandchildren, William and Jason Ball and Brooke Mullinax; great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also predeceased by her parents; a daughter, Sandra Ball; and several brothers and sisters.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, May 4th, at 10 a.m. at the Port Douglas Cemetery with Monsignor Leeward J. Poissant, pastor of the Catholic Community of Keeseville, officiating.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Skilled Nursing Unit of the CVPH Medical Center, c/o The Foundation of CVPH Medical Center, 75 Beekman St., Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

Arrangement are by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru.

Schuyler Falls — Michael A. Palmer Sr., 55, of the Conners Road, Schuyler Falls, died unexpectedly, Friday, April 29, 2005, at the Fletcher Allen Healthcare Center in Burlington, Vt., as a result of an accident at work.

He was born in Elizabethtown, March 25, 1950, the son of Lyman and Tina (King) Palmer.

Michael was a graduate of Willsboro Central School. He then joined the U.S. Army and served from 1973 until being honorably discharged in 1977.

He was employed with Liftech in Burlington, Vt., as a forklift mechanic.

Michael was a member of the Peru Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 309. He enjoyed cars and hunting.

Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Ruth E. Palmer of Schuyler Falls, whom he married May 12, 1973, in Connecticut; four sons, Michael Palmer Jr. of Plattsburgh, Steven Palmer of Lyon Mountain, Robert Palmer of Plattsburgh and Adam Sherman of Plattsburgh; a daughter, Heather Palmer and her companion Don Sheppard of West Chazy; four brothers and three sisters-in-law, Doug and Kathy Palmer of South Carolina, Lyman Jr. and Judy Palmer of Washington, Selwyn "Skip" and Tammy Palmer of Lewis and Waite Palmer of Castleton; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Morna and Ed Cragle of Peru and Wanda Denton and companion Ron Boyse of Morrisonville; his mother and father-in-law, Richard and Ruth James of Keeseville; three sisters-in-law and spouses, Linda and Jack Armstrong of Connecticut, Kay and Duane Peabody of Maryland, and Patricia and David Ring of Maine; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents.

Calling hours will be held Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru. A prayer service will follow at 7 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home. A gathering will follow the service at 546 Soper St., Morrisonville.

Donations in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.

SARANAC LAKE — Helen T. Delahant, 85, of 139 Main St., Saranac Lake, died Thursday, April 28, 2005, at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.

Born in Wood-Ridge, N.J., on Dec. 10, 1919, she was the daughter of Harry and Lillian (Harvey) Trouve.

Helen married John F. "Jack" Delahant on March 17, 1944, in the Little Church Around the Corner in New York City. She worked for five years as a secretary in New York City until moving to Saranac Lake in 1949. In 1961, she went to work for Dr. Francis B. Trudeau as a medical secretary, retiring in 1984 as office manager for Medical Associates. She was secretary for the Trudeau Institute Board of Trustees, often traveling to New York City for meetings.

Helen was a very active member of the Church of St. Luke the Beloved Physician in Saranac Lake, where she worked on the Vestry, Altar Guild and as secretary-treasurer for many years. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Elks Club and was a Rotarian. She volunteered at the Saranac Lake Free Library's Adirondack Room and was secretary-treasurer for the Stevenson Society of America, Inc.

After retiring, Jack and Helen enjoyed traveling in the United States, Canada and Europe, and especially spending time with their grandchildren.

She is survived by her three sons, William Delahant and his wife Terry of Lake Placid, Thomas Delahant of Saranac Lake and John Delahant and his wife Karla of Saranac Lake; two grandsons, Nick and Scott Delahant of Lake Placid; and 20 nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband on Nov. 13, 1995; her parents; and four sisters.

Calling hours will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's Church in Saranac Lake, with the Rev. Fredrick Dennis officiating. Interment will be in Pine Ridgie Cemetery in Saranac Lake.

Friends wishing to remember Helen may make memorial contributions to the Stevenson Cottage, Trudeau Institute, or St. Luke's Church in care of the funeral home.

CADYVILLE — Eileen M. Darrah, 68, of Route 3, died Wednesday, April 27, 2005, at the Cornell Hospital in New York City.

She was born in Bay Shore, N.Y., on Dec. 30, 1936, the daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Flemming) Shanley.

Eileen’s passions were her grandchildren, dancing, her Irish heritage and all things Irish.

Survivors include her husband, Clarence "Bob" Darrah of Cadyville; her children, Donald and Sharie O'Connell of Corpus Christi, Texas, Kim O'Connell Provost of Cadyville, Sean O'Connell of Cadyville and Tara O'Connell of Corpus Christi, Texas; three stepchildren, Michael and Lynn Darrah of Cadyville, Patricia Darrah of Plattsburgh and William Darrah and his companion Lori Durham of Plattsburgh; two brothers, Francis and Hilda Shanley of Cadyville and Kenneth and Karen Shanley of Port Charlotte, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Josette Shanley of Central Islip, N.Y.; eight grandchildren, Adam and Dreana Resler-O'Connell, Ireland O'Connell, Jordon Darrah, Matthew Dunsmore, Shana Darrah, Heather Darrah, Brandon Darrah and Natasha Darrah; two great-grandchildren, Matthew Resler-O'Connell and Andrew Resler-O’Connell; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her grandson, Jared Provost, 18, who died on Oct. 11, 2004; and also by a brother, Kevin Shanley, who died on March 17, 1999.

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

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday at 11 a.m. at St. James Church in Cadyville.

Burial will be at a later date in the parish cemetery.

Donations in Eileen’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Zielinski — A graveside service for Russell J. Zielinski, 46, of South Catherine Street, Plattsburgh, who died March 4, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center, will be held on Monday at 9:30 a.m. in God's Acre Cemetery in Peru. The R.W. Walker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Naoma Salina Elliott, 100, formerly of Massena and Saranac Lake, died April 30, 2005, at Mercy Health Care in Tupper Lake.

She was born in Redford, N.Y., on April 21, 1905, the daughter of Oliver and Lucina (Dubray) Strack.

A Mass of Christian burial will take place on Monday at 11:15 a.m. at St. Bernard Church in Saranac Lake, with Rev. Thomas Kornmeyer officiating. Burial will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery in Saranac Lake.

David Dukette, 57, of the Alder Bend Road in Altona, died Thursday, April 28, 2005, at his home.

He was born in Keescville on Jan. 5, 1947, son of the late Roland and Stella Dukette.

Calling hours will be Tuesday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. from the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11 a.m. from St, James Church in Cadyville. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery with full military honors provided by the U.S. Army from the 10th Mountain Division in Watertown.

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