10/13/2005

Obituaries: 10/13/05

George Joseph Ducharme

PLATTSBURGH -- George Joseph Ducharme peacefully passed away at home with his family around him at 7:02 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2005.

He was born Sept. 10, 1928, in Plattsburgh, N.Y., the son of George Harry Ducharme and Daisy Pearl Wood, formerly of 108 Maple St., Rouses Point, N.Y.

George graduated early from Rouses Point High School in January 1945. With World War II still in progress, he volunteered for military service and was assigned to the United States Navy Flight Training School in Georgia for training as a Naval Aviator. With the end of World War II, he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy and returned home to Rouses Point in January of 1946.

He attended Canton Technical College and graduated two years later. He began work as a plumbing and heating technician with the M. A. Hardy Co., in Plattsburgh, N.Y. In 1950, the Korean War began. In 1951, George was drafted into the U.S. Army and attended basic training at Fort Dix, N.J., as an infantryman. Completing training, he was selected to serve as training cadre for about nine months after which he shipped out to Korea via San Francisco and Japan. He was assigned to Company D, 15th Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. During his two-year tour of duty, he directly participated in extensive combat operations during his initial assignment to a heavy weapons platoon. By the end of his tour, he was selected as the Company First Sergeant, having been promoted from private to First Sergeant in less than two years. He was offered a battle field commission as a Lieutenant. He declined the commission, which would have required that he extend his tour in Korea, and returned home to Rouses Point in 1952.

He resumed his employment with the M. A. Hardy Co.

On Aug. 10, 1954, he married Jacquelyn Ann Jennings of Rouses Point, N.Y., and shortly thereafter began his own company, Ducharme's Plumbing and Heating. He ran the business with his wife for eighteen years. In 1970, while completing an undergraduate degree program at Oswego University, he began teaching plumbing and heating at the B.O.C.E.S. vocational trade school in Plattsburgh, N.Y. He taught at B.O.C.E.S. until 1984 when he joined the New York State prison system as a vocational education teacher. He taught at various correctional institutions in the Malone and Altona areas, standing up two new facilities, until retiring in 1990. During retirement, he served the next 10 years as the building code enforcement officer for the town of Champlain.

George was an active member of the community. In 1960, he founded the Village of Rouses Point's Fourth of July celebrations, the largest celebration in the North Country at that time, which he coordinated for a total of 16 years. He founded the "Montgomery Rifles" precision marching and drill team and led them for almost four decades winning numerous competitions. The Montgomery Rifles also rendered military honors at innumerable individual military funerals and at local cemeteries commemorating Memorial Day. He served as Commander of American Legion Post 912 on seven separate occasions. At various times, he was chairman of the Republican Committee in the town of Champlain, a member of the Republican County Committee and a member of the Sportsmen's Club. He was a member of the St. Amadeus Catholic Church in Alburg, Vt.

George was preceded in death by his beloved father and mother, George H. and Daisy; and his sister, Gertrude.

He is survived by his wife, Jacquelyn; his four children, Lee, Cheryl, Darryl and Lisa; and his three grandchildren, Anthony, Devin and Amanda.

A private family viewing is planned. Funeral services will be held at St. Amadeus Catholic Church at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, 2005, followed by a military internment service at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Rouses Point, N.Y. A reception will be held following the internment at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Champlain, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of the North Country, 43 Durkee St., Suite 200, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Telephone (518) 561-8465.

The family thanks the Hospice of the North Country for the kindness and grace with which they cared for their father in his final days.

Hazel E. DuBray

PLATTSBURGH -- Hazel E. DuBray, 88, of 46 Flynn Ave., Plattsburgh, died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005, at her residence.

She was born at Wolf Pond on May 22, 1917, the daughter of Thomas and Emma (Westcott) Marshall.

She worked for many years for Dr. Lamb at Chazy Lake and the IGA stores in Lyon Mountain and Dannemora. Hazel worked at the first lunch counter at the Plattsburgh Airport. She also worked at Loon Lake, 7 Keys Lodge and at the Clinton County Sheriff's Office as head cook and matron until her retirement in 1979.

She was a member of the Lyon Mountain Methodist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star.

Hazel was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed fishing at Wolf Pond and visiting with her special friends. Christmas was her very special holiday. She had 44 consecutive years of spending Christmas with her loving family.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Marshall and Bernadette DuBray of Morrisonville; a daughter and son-in-law, Sharron and Americo (Ves) Pivetta of Lyon Mountain; five grandchildren, Mark, Mike and Jerry Pivetta, Andrea Pivetta Bull, Jean Marie Pulsipher; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Hazel was predeceased in death by her parents; her husband, Ernest V. DuBray; two brothers, Raymond and Frederick Marshall; a sister, Violet Jette; and a great-grandson, Logan Michael Pivetta.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Lyon Mountain Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday from the Memorial Methodist Church in Lyon Mountain. Interment will follow in Independence Cemetery in Saranac. A reception will be held at the Sorrell-Woodward American Legion in Lyon Mountain.

Friends wishing to remember Hazel may make contributions to the Lyon Mountain Memorial Methodist Church.

Charles Patrick Connery

TICONDEROGA -- Charles Patrick Connery, 61, of Seattle, Wash., and formerly of Ticonderoga, died suddenly at his home in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005.

He was born in Ticonderoga on Dec. 16, 1943, the son of the late David and Harriet (Perry) Connery.

Pat was a 1961 graduate of Ticonderoga High School and he was a graduate of Simmons School of Embalming and Mortuary Science in Syracuse, N.Y. Upon his graduation at Simmons, he was employed by both the Connery & Sons Funeral Home and the Wilcox Funeral Home both in Ticonderoga.

In the late 1960's, he was employed by the Carpenters Union on the New Mill project in Ticonderoga. Upon the Mill's completion he moved to Prudo Bay in northern Alaska where he worked as a carpenter on the oil pipeline. He then relocated in Seattle where he became a foreman on the Seattle Superdome project.

He was a noted hunter and fisherman while living in Ticonderoga, and when he moved to the West Coast, he continued his love for the outdoors, spending weeks on horseback, both hunting and fishing in Idaho. In his later years, he took up golf.

He is survived by one daughter, Trisha Winchell and her husband Jason of Crown Point; three sons, Mark Connery of Phoenix, Ariz., Shawn Connery and his wife Jennifer of New Jersey and Stephen Connery and his wife Karyn of Bolton Landing; and four brothers, Michael Connery and his wife Linda, John Connery and his wife Kitty and Paul Connery, all of Ticonderoga, and Peter Connery and his wife Bonnie of Queensbury. He is also survived by four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

There will be no calling hours. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005, at 1 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church of Ticonderoga. The Rev. William G. Muench, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Idaho. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home in Ticonderoga.

Robert Moore

MYSTIC, CONN. -- Robert "Kelly" Howard Moore, 83, of Mystic, Conn., passed away on Monday, Oct. 3, 2005, at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.

Bob was born in Springfield, Vt., on Aug. 26, 1922, the son of the late Ralph and Edith (Hall) Moore, and raised in Ticonderoga, N.Y. He grew up treading the paths once walked by his ancestor, James Wilcox, who was with Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys during the taking of Fort Ticonderoga during the Revolutionary War. Bob spent much of his childhood in Chilson, N.Y., on the family farm that belonged to his great-grandfather, Civil War veteran John Chandler Moody.

When his own generation faced the challenges of World War II, Bob joined the Navy, prompting his hometown newspaper, the Ticonderoga Sentinel, to report "we'll lay odds of 6, 2 and even that he'll be one of the grandest guys ever to don a gob's uniform." Serving as a torpedoman on the submarine USS Angler during World War II, Bob participated in a number of war patrols in the South Pacific.

His most significant experience in Australia, that of being introduced to his future wife, Patricia Ellis, from Perth, Western Australia, who survives him. Throughout their lives together, Bob belonged to a number of fraternal, historical, and service organizations, including the Nathan Hale Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was a 50-year member of Mount Defiance Masonic Lodge 0794 Free and Accepted Masons, Ticonderoga, N.Y. Most notably, he served as national president of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II, was the chairman of the Wall of Honor Executive Committee for U.S. Sub Vets of World War II National Submarine memorial East and most recently, as a member of the executive board of the Submarine Force Library and Museum.

He had a 20-year career in the submarine Navy, followed by 16 years at General Dynamics/Electric Boat, and then as an account representative with Bailey Agencies of Groton.

However, of all his alliances, it was his marriage of 58 years of which he was most proud. Along with his wife, Pat, he is survived by a son, Robert H. Moore II of New York, N.Y.; three daughters, Patrice and her husband, Roger Diebel of Preston, Aletha Roberts of Virginia, and Kelly and her husband Alex Ivins of Mystic; 12 grandchildren, Anna Spiess, Amy Lee, Tracey Tenpenny, Jill Overton, Tricia Dodge, Holly Roberts, Drew Roberts, Amanda Diebel, Autumn Diebel, Zachariah Ivins, Chelsea Ivins and Chloe Ivins; eight great-grandchildren, Emily and Elizabeth Lee, Jordan, Jadyn, and Jayme Overton, Annalee and Victoria Tenpenny and Reese Dodge; a brother, Vernon Moore of Clifton Park, N.Y.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, William and Richard Moore; a sister, Priscilla Carey; and a granddaughter, Zoe Ivins.

Bob was a member of First United Methodist Church, Mystic.

There are no calling hours. A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 12, 2005, at the submarine Force Library and Museum, home of the USS Nautilus, located outside the main gate of the Submarine Base in Groton.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bob's memory to the Submarine Force Library and Museum Association, PO Box 501, Naval Submarine Base, Groton, CT 06349.

Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 310 Thames St., Groton, Conn., are in charge of arrangements.

Interment will be at the Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery at the behest of the family.

Helen J. Fitzpatrick

PLATTSBURGH -- Helen J. Fitzpatrick, 99, of the Vilas Home, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005, at the Vilas Home in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Plattsburgh on Jan. 10, 1906, daughter of the late Corydon S. and Jessie (Barber) Johnson.

Helen is survived by a daughter, Nancy Manning and her husband William of Plattsburgh; a son, John J. Fitzpatrick III and his wife Anne of Topeka, Kan.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents, Helen is predeceased by her husband, John J. Fitzpatrick II, who passed away Jan. 28, 1982.

There will be no calling hours. A funeral service will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Donations in Helen's memory may be made to the Samuel S. Vilas Home, 61 Beekman St., Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

Arrangements are with the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Deaths:

BLANCHE THERESA DEFAYETTE, 85, formerly of Dannemora, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday, Oct. 14, 2005, at 10 a.m. at St. James Church in Cadyville with Monsignor Lawrence Deno, pastor. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. The R.W. Walker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

TINA M. BURNELL, 83, formerly of Military Turnpike, West Chazy, died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005, in Pennsylvania.

She was born in Fort Covington, N.Y., on Dec. 12, 1921, the daughter of Wallace and Louise (Richer) Martin. Arrangements are incomplete at this time with the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

HERTA M. ASHLINE, 70, of Rouses Point died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center.

Calling hours will be held Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home in Rouses Point. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Rouses Point. A full obituary will be in Friday's newspaper.

EDWARD WAKELING JR., 67, of Old Furnace Road, Crown Point, N.Y., died Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005, at the Community Hospital in Elizabethtown, N.Y.

He was born Dec. 12, 1937, in Jersey City, N.J., the son of Edward Sr. and Elsie (Buda) Wakeling.

Services and burial in North Brunswick, N.J., will be at a later date. Arrangements are with the Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry.

FREEMAN CHASE, 87, of the Military Turnpike in Plattsburgh died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005 at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru.