Obituaries: 11/27/05

Benjamin Fuller Allen

PLATTSBURGH -- Benjamin Fuller Allen passed away Nov. 25, 2005. at his home in Plattsburgh, five days before his 90th birthday.

He was born in Plattsburgh on Nov. 30, 1915, son of Benjamin Isaac and Cornelia (Hagar) Allen. Fuller attended Plattsburgh Normal School, Albany Law School and St. Lawrence University, where he met the love of his life, Margaret Jessie Bessette, whom he married in 1943.

In 1939 Mr. Allen was in a severe auto accident and almost killed. The injuries prevented him from serving in World War II. During the war he worked in his father's law office at 22 Brinkerhoff St., Plattsburgh and as a U.S. Commissioner. Later, following a brief teaching career, he established his own practice. From 1966 to 1988 Fuller Allen was an attorney for the State of New York in Albany.

He was active in Kiwanis, Little League baseball and the Plattsburgh United Methodist Church and was instrumental in finding new property for the church when it burned in 1956.

He is survived by his wife Margaret; four sons, Thomas Hagar Allen and his wife Carole of Arlington, Mass., Richard Hull Allen and his wife Lucille of Essex, Vt., Lawrence Fuller Allen of Beekmantown, Arthur Addoms Allen and his wife Renee of Clinton, Conn.; and a daughter, Carol Jean Allen of Plattsburgh. He also leaves seven grandchildren. Fuller was particularly proud of his family and their accomplishments. Two of Fuller's five siblings survive him: Frank Nichols Allen of Excelsior, Minn., and Carlene Allen Raper of Burlington, Vt., as does his sister-in-law, Grace Howard Allen of Plattsburgh.

Fuller was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed camping, canoeing, sailing, skiing and birding. In his younger days he was an accomplished tennis player and trumpet player. Fuller served as a local historian and genealogist and published a number of books and articles. He could be seen taking long walks throughout Plattsburgh until recently.

Visiting hours will be held at R.W. Walker Funeral Home at 69 Court St. on Monday, Nov. 28, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the United Methodist Church on Tuesday, Nov. 29th, at 11 a.m.

Donations in Fuller's memory may be made to the Reverend Ball Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Plattsburgh United Methodist Church, 127 Beekman Street in Plattsburgh.

Shirley J. Brown

JAY, N.Y. -- Shirley Brown passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov. 25, at Meadowbrook Healthcare in Plattsburgh after a long and courageous struggle with lung cancer.

Shirley was born in Buckingham, Quebec, the daughter of Hugh and Hazel Nesbitt. She was a registered nurse, having trained at the Ottawa Civic Hospital and later earned a degree in nursing education at the University of Western Ontario.

She met her husband at UWO and moved with him to Toronto, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and northern New York. She enjoyed traveling on business with him to France, Mexico, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong. In 1982 they retired from the corporate world and bought the Landmark Motor Lodge in Wilmington, which they managed for the next 16 years.

She earned her accreditation as a Master Gardener and was a member of local garden clubs. She earned the respect and love of the many friends that she made along the way.

She is survived by her husband Peter; son Michael of Austin, Texas; daughter Suzanne Taunton of Barrie, Ontario; daughter-in-law Alice; son-in-law Steve; grandsons Jordan and Jacob; granddaughter Chloe; and sisters Dorothy and Marion.

She was predeceased by her parents; daughter Terri; and brother-in-law Stan.

Her friends are all invited to an informal celebration of her life at the Wilderness Inn in Wilmington on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Donations in her name to the FitzPatrick Cancer Center in Plattsburgh would be welcome.

The O'Neill-Redden-Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh is in charge of arrangements.

Louise Elise Gregoire

LAWRENCE, MASS. -- Louise Elise Gregoire, 88, residing at M.I. Restorative Center in Lawrence, Mass., passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2005, there. She was born in Chelsea, Mass., on Nov. 29, 1916, daughter of the late Hornisdas and Sarah (Mombouquette) Gregoire and stepdaughter of the late Annie Gregoire.

Louise was educated at Chelsea schools. She had served as a Grey Nun for over 35 years and was a missionary in Africa while serving with the Order. Louise had worked in the Grey Nuns Thrift Shop as well as the Protectory in Lawrence and many other orphanages in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. After leaving the Grey Nuns in 1972, Miss Gregoire went to work at Centronics in Hudson, N.Y., and then moved to Chazy, N.Y., where she worked in child care. Louise was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1466 Ladies Auxiliary in Beekmantown and was a former member of the Senior Citizens in Chazy.

Louise is survived by a stepsister, Sister Marie Doucette, S.G.M. of Lexington, Mass.; sisters-in-law Emiline Gregoire of Somerville, Mass., Mary Gregoire of Chelsea, Mass.; brother-in-law Joseph Nocito of Massachusetts; as well as her friend and caregiver, Ethel Dick of Chazy, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.

Miss Gregoire was predeceased by 10 brothers; two sisters; and one stepsister.

Calling hours will be Monday, Nov. 28, 2005, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 122 Amesbury St., Lawrence, Mass.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Lawrence, Mass.

Calling hours will continue on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 29 Broad St., Plattsburgh, N.Y. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, at 11 a.m. from Sacred Heart Church in Chazy. Burial will follow in Ingraham Cemetery.

Eva M. Robarge

KEESEVILLE -- Eva M. Robarge, 84, formerly of AuSable Street, Keeseville, died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2005, at the Meadowbrook Healthcare Facility in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Sciota, Nov. 2, 1921, the daughter of Ira and Leah (Goodman) Rock.

Eva graduated from Chazy High School. She was a teachers aid at AuSable Valley Central School for 20 years. Prior to that she worked at Keeseville Central School.

Eva enjoyed reading, cooking and knitting.

Survivors include two sons and one daughter-in-law, William Alan "Al" and Kathy Robarge of East Northport, L.I., and Gene Robarge of Keeseville; five grandchildren, Bryan Robarge and Emily Robarge, both of East Northport, L.I., Whitney Robarge of Plattsburgh and Sara and Kael Robarge, both of Keeseville; former daughter-in-law, Beth Winter of Keeseville; one cousin, Gloria Rock; one nephew, the Rev. Peter Riani; and one niece, Susan Riani.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, William F. Robarge, Oct. 31, 1988; her son, Douglas C. Robarge, Oct. 17, 2005; one brother, Leslie Rock; and one sister, Gladys Rock.

Calling hours will be held Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville. A memorial Mass will be celebrated Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. John's Church in Keeseville with the Rev. Peter R. Riani, pastor of St. Elizabeth's Church in Elizabethtown and St. Philip Neri Church in Westport, celebrating and Rev. Leeward J. Poissant, pastor, concelebrating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in Keeseville.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Meadowbrook Healthcare Facility.

Deaths

ARNOLD N. KING, 93, of Mooers, died Nov. 26, 2005, at the Cedar Hedge Nursing Home in Rouses Point.

Arrangements were incomplete Saturday evening at the E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Mooers.

EARL E. COOK, 69, of Chateaugay, died Nov. 26, 2005, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center.

Services will be in the spring at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements are through the Chateaugay Funeral Home.

RICHARD J. "DICK" TROMBLEE, 63, of North Main Street, Keeseville, died Nov. 26, 2005 at the Elizabethtown Community Hospital.

He was born in Plattsburgh, Nov. 17, 1942, the son of William and Catherine (LaHue) Tromblee.

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