Obituaries: 11/09/05

William M. Zielinski

LOS ANGELES -- William M. Zielinski, 49, of Los Angeles, Calif., died suddenly on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005, while walking near his apartment.

Born Jan. 6, 1956, in Plattsburgh, N.Y., he was the son of William H. and Doris (Lorry) Zielinski.

William (Bill) was predeceased by his parents and his grandparents, Peter S. and Valeda Blumette of Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Bill is survived by two brothers, Peter S. and Elyse Zielinski of Peru and John R. Zielinski of Plattsburgh; along with several nieces and nephews.

Bill graduated from Plattsburgh High School in 1973. He attended New York University, then Suffolk University in Boston, Mass., where he graduated with a degree in economics. He enjoyed a long career in finance, that brought him to New York City, Chicago and finally to Los Angeles, where he was employed at ING Direct.

Bill enjoyed a passion for sports history that centered on baseball and hockey, always rooting for his New York Yankees and Montreal Canadians. He also had a great hunger for theological knowledge. That journey allowed him to experience many different religions and meet and have many good friends.

While Bill lived much of his adult life away from his hometown of Plattsburgh, N.Y., he enjoyed a vast knowledge of its rich history and always called it home.

A short burial service will be held at St. Peter's Cemetery on Monday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.

For those who wish, donations may be sent to the North Country Cultural Center for the Arts, for the Strand Theatre renovation project.

Edith I. St. Pierre

PLATTSBURGH -- Edith I. St. Pierre, 81, of Route 9, Plattsburgh, died Monday, Nov. 8, 2005, at the Clinton County Nursing Home.

Mrs. St. Pierre was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Nov. 18, 1923, the daughter of Giovanni and Emmanuela (Fiola) Tutolo.

She married Gerard St. Pierre at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1950.

Edith was a secretary on Wall Street for three years and later for Pet Milk Company in Manhattan. She moved to Plattsburgh in 1964 and was the assistant librarian for Beekmantown Central School retiring after 30 years in 1987. Mrs. St. Pierre was a member of St. Mary's of the Lake Church. She loved to knit and enjoyed going out to eat.

Survivors include her husband, Gerard St. Pierre of Plattsburgh; two sons, Raymond St. Pierre of Cumberland Head and Roy St. Pierre of Burlington, Vt.; four daughters, Mrs. Michael (Maria) Roberts of Newton, N.H., Mrs. John (Lorretta) Santasier of E. Setauket, N.Y., Annette St. Pierre of Beekmantown and Mrs. Stephen (Roseanne) Racette of Cadyville; two brothers, Alfred Tutolo of Manahawkin, N.J., and Albert Tutolo and his wife Jean of Queens, N.Y.; one sister, Doris Tutolo of Staten Island; and seven grandchildren, David, Katherine and Jennifer St. Pierre, Stephanie and Nicholas Santasier and Michael and Alexis Racette.

A sister, Camilla Olsen, died earlier.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday 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 Friday at 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary's of the Lake Church on Cumberland Head. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Senior Citizens Council or the Clinton County Nursing Home.

Gary F. Cluette

PLATTSBURGH -- Gary F. Cluette, beloved husband, 61, of Beekman Street, Plattsburgh, left us to join his mother and father, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

He was born in Plattsburgh, April 14, 1944, the son of Francis "Frank" and Marjorie (Merrihew) Cluette.

Gary attended Ithaca College, Plattsburgh State University and graduated from Onondaga College.

He married Sharon L. Allen, May 13, 1998, in Orlando, Fla. They had been together since 1982.

Gary was employed at the Meadowbrook Healthcare Facility in Plattsburgh for 16 years prior to being disabled with lung disease. Many will remember Gary from the Union Hotel in Plattsburgh where he bartended for years, prior to opening Gary's Tavern on Margaret Street in Plattsburgh.

His outgoing personality and vast knowledge made him a pleasure to converse with. He had a desire for genealogy; he didn't want to just know someone, he had to truly get to know them. Gary was an accomplished musician and played a variety of instruments. He enjoyed sports and was an avid basketball enthusiast. Cooking and sending jokes and interesting e-mails were also hobbies. He was a big man with an even bigger heart. The "Big Guy" will truly be missed.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon L. Cluette of Plattsburgh; one sister and brother-in-law, Margot Cluette and Mark Duba of Burlington, Vt.; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Frank Cluette of Plattsburgh and Michael J. and Jessica Cluette of Alabama; one daughter, Kelly Cluette and her companion Josh Osterhaudt of Queensbury; his father-in-law, Sherman Allen of Moriah; one aunt, Stella Williams of Tupper Lake; five grandchildren; seven brothers and sisters-in-law and their spouses; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and many friends.

He was predeceased by his parents.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru. A memorial Mass will be celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine's Church in Peru with the Rev. William G. Reamer, CVPH Chaplain, celebrating and the Rev. Alan D. Shnob, pastor, concelebrating. Burial will follow in the family plot in the parish cemetery.

Donations in his memory may be made to the American Lung Association.

Louise Donaldson

SARANAC LAKE -- Mary Louise LaBounty Donaldson, age 92, formerly of Will Rogers Drive, Saranac Lake and Lake Clear, died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, at the Eastern Star Home in Oriskany, N.Y.

Born in Jay, Vt., on April 9, 1913, she was the daughter of Mitchell and Bertha (Mayhew) LaBounty.

At the age of 16, Mrs. Donaldson was hired as a waitress and worked in the Olympic Arena during the III Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid in 1932.

Along with her husband Clifford Donaldson Sr., she owned Donaldson Construction Company of Lake Clear, N.Y. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson spent winters at their home in Kissimmee, Fla. Mrs. Donaldson was a member and past matron in 1959, of the Order of the Eastern Star and was a member of the Order of the Amaranth. She was a former member of the Saranac Lake Women's Bowling Association. Mrs. Donaldson was also an active member of a group of Lake Clear parents who lead the efforts to build a new school in Lake Clear, which is today a part of the Saranac Lake School District. She was president of the Lake Clear School Parent Teachers Association from 1957-1964 and was a member of the Lake Clear Presbyterian Church.

Mrs. Donaldson married Clifford Donaldson Sr. on Jan. 10, 1933, in Saranac Lake. He died in 1987.

She is survived by a son, Clifford Donaldson Jr. and his wife Joan of Saranac Lake; a daughter, Arlene Wozna and her husband Robert of Holland Patent, N.Y.; five grandchildren, Kathy Brown and her husband John, Robert Wozna, Sheila Saunders and her husband Brett, Scott Wozna and his wife Jo and Aaron Donaldson; and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford; her father, Mitchell LaBounty; her mother, Bertha Mayhew; her brother, Raymond LaBounty and her brother, Lawrence LaBounty.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, from 6 to 9 p.m. An Eastern Star service will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday with immediate past grand Matron, Betty Crawford, officiating. The funeral service will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Saranac Lake with the Rev. Joanne White and the Rev. Arthur Goyette concelebrating. Burial will follow at St. John's Cemetery in Paul Smiths.

Friends wishing to remember Mrs. Donaldson may make memorial contributions in care of the funeral home to the North Country Community College Foundation in support of the nursing program.

Richard A. Bunning Sr.

VENICE, FLA. -- Richard A. Bunning Sr., aged 65, died on Nov. 6, 2005, at Venice Regional Medical Center, Venice, Fla.

He was born on March 26, 1940, in Oceanside, N.Y.

He came to Venice in 1995 from Westport, N.Y., where he worked for 22 years as a New York state trooper. He was also a security officer for International Paper in Ticonderoga, N.Y., until his retirement in 1999.

Since moving to Florida, he was employed in the automotive department of the Venice Wal-Mart for 10 years. He attended the Christ United Methodist Church of Venice and participated in the church choir.

He is survived by his wife, Alice S. Bunning (nee Witte) of Venice, Fla.; daughters, Laura Rider of Sumter, S.C., and Susan Querfeld of Arequipa, Peru; son, Richard A. Bunning Jr. of Williston, Vt.; brothers, John Ross Bunning of Hampton, N.Y., and Charles Cort Bunning of Stony Brook, N.Y.; and eight grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005, at 2:30 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Steve Miller and the Rev. Craig Querfeld to officiate.

Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Christ United Methodist Church Missions Fund, 1475 Center Road, Venice, FL 34292 or to Venice Independent Mission, PO Box 892, Venice, FL 34294-0992.

Farley Funeral Home and Crematory Venice Chapel are in charge of arrangements.

Alice J. Cunningham

DANNEMORA -- Alice J. Cunningham, 91, of Hugh Herron Road, died Monday, Nov. 7, 2005, at her home.

She was born on May 7, 1914, in Dannemora the daughter of John and Mae (Hackett) Osher.

Alice was a member of St. Joseph's Church in Dannemora. She worked as a aide at CVPH Medical Center for many years.

Survivors include a niece, Barbara Perry of Saranac; a sister-in-law, Shirley Osher of Saranac: several cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Alice was predeceased by her husband, Edwin Cunningham; her son, John Kuhlsen; and a brother, William Osher.

Calling hours will be held Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will follow in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Frank M. Bezon

PORT HENRY -- Frank M. Bezon, 79, died Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005, at his home with his family by his side.

He was born in Port Henry on Feb. 9, 1926, the youngest of seven children born to the late Frank and Rosalia (Wojewodzic) Bezon.

Frank worked for Republic Steel Corp. and BOCES in Mineville. He was the founder of FMB Bait and Tackle Shop in Port Henry. He was a Naval Veteran of World War II.

He leaves a wife, Ruth; and four children, Frank and his wife Barbara Bezon and Mike and his wife Nancy Bezon of Port Henry, John and his wife Elaine Bezon and Donna and her husband Mark St. Pierre of Crown Point; 10 grandchildren, Mark and Adam St. Pierre, Brandy Palmer, John, Jessica and Chawntelle Bezon, Mike and Sarah Bezon and Joy and Edward Armstrong; 11 great-grandchildren; a brother, Martin Bezon of Port Henry; two sisters, Wanda Garadowski and Stella Wyrocki of Massachusetts.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Anna Cutting and Mary Wyrocki.

There will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday, Nov. 11, 2005, at noon at St. Patrick's Church in Port Henry. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Port Henry.

Arrangements are with the Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry, N.Y.

Albert R. Guyette

PLATTSBURGH -- Albert R. Guyette, 76, of Carter Court, Plattsburgh, passed away on Monday, Nov. 7, 2005, at his home after a long illness.

He was born in Chateaugay on May 12, 1929, son of the late Jake and Dorothy (Gilman) Guyette.

Albert was a lifetime truck driver. Albert was an avid bowler and enjoyed visiting with his friends at the mall.

Albert is survived by his wife of 58 years, Rita M. (Perry) Guyette of Plattsburgh; two daughters, Beverly R. Guyette of Plattsburgh and Nancy L. Evans of Plattsburgh; two grandchildren, D.J. and his wife Heather Evans of Plattsburgh and Cheri Evans of Plattsburgh; two great-grandchildren, Daniel and Brooke Evans; two brothers and a sister, Leeward and Grace Lamoy of Peru, Arthur and Jane Lamoy of Florida and Carol Carr; and several nieces and nephews.

Albert was predeceased by three brothers, Stanley, Leon and Norman Lamoy; and a sister, Betty Avanzato.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005, at 12:30 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home Chapel in Plattsburgh. Burial will follow in St. Augustine's Cemetery in Peru.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Augustine's School in Peru or to Rescue Hose 5 Volunteer Fire Department in Plattsburgh.

Deaths:

WALTER THOMAS OTIS, 70, of Buffalo Grove, Ill., died Oct. 15, 2005 in Chicago.

He was born in Elizabethtown, N.Y., Dec. 22, 1934, the son of Gordon Otis Sr. and Georgianna (Gregory) Otis.

There are no calling hours. A private graveside service will be held at North Elba Cemetery in Lake Placid, N.Y., at the convenience of the family.

The Clark Funeral Home in Lake Placid is in charge of arrangements.