Obituaries: 11/29/05

Ida Morette

TICONDEROGA -- Miss Ida Morette, 90, of Ticonderoga, died Sunday, Nov. 27, 2005, at the Inter-Lakes Health Center in Ticonderoga where she had been a resident since June 2005.

Ida was a lifelong resident of Ticonderoga, having lived most of her life at 19 South Street before moving to 39 Amherst Avenue in 1996.

Ida was born July 28, 1915, on Lake George Avenue in Ticonderoga and was the second child of six born to Anna Domenica DiFebbo Marinelli and Congezio Marinelli, also known as John Morette.

She began her career with International Paper Co. as one of seven women hired in October 1939. Her first job assignment was in the finishing room where she received 49 cents per hour, then she worked in the cutter room for a time and finally she was transferred to the machine room as a weigher. Because of her many years of service, Ida was one of the first employees moved to the new facility on Lake Road after its completion in 1969. This is where she remained until her retirement in 1977.

In her retirement, Ida enjoyed reminiscing about the respect she was given by her male colleagues and the happy times spent with her many friends at "the mill". She was able to visit Italy in 1992, 1995 and 2000, looking for "tout a la roots" (all of her roots). Meeting her cousins and seeing the region her parents immigrated from gave Ida great joy. Her favorite hobby was cooking and especially making bread. Everyone loved "Aunt Ida's" homemade bread...made the way her Italian mother had taught her.

Ida said she always tried to live by the motto "Do an act of kindness daily" to which many people in the area can attest to.

She was a communicant of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Ticonderoga and International Paper Company's Quarter Century Club.

Besides her parents, Ida was predeceased by her four brothers, Edmund (Undy) and wife Marion Morette, Edward (Doda) and wife Carmella Morette, Joseph Morette and Louis Morett; also her brother-in-law, John O'Bryan; niece, Elizabeth O'Bryan Wardell; and nephew, Gary Morette.

Survivors include her sister, Antoinette (Toni) O'Bryan of Ticonderoga and Toni's children Margaret Rishel and husband Scott of Queensbury, Susan Kremer and husband Charlie of Burlington, Vt., John O'Bryan and wife Gayle of Hudson, Mass., and James O'Bryan and wife Shari of Ticonderoga; and son-in-law, Tom Wardell of Queensbury; her sister-in-law, Geraldine (Gerrie) Morett of Ticonderoga and Gerrie's children, Steve Morett and wife Jan of Saratoga Springs, Marilyn Towne and husband Tom of Queensbury, Louann Jaquish and husband Don of Moriah, Eva Lovegrove and husband Brian of Peoria, Ariz., and Dennis Morett and wife Valerie of Ottumwa, Iowa; nephews, John Morette and wife Kay of Melbourne, Fla., Anthony Morette and wife Susan of Ticonderoga, Robert Morette and wife Jeanne of Winnetka, Ill.; nieces Anne Morette of Ticonderoga, Kathy Schubin and husband Ron of Albany; and several cousins here and in Pineto/Silvi, Italy; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Aunt Ida had a close relationship with her great-niece, Sarah Rishel and husband Tom Austin of Greenfield Center; and dear family friends, Walter and Ann Gunning of Albany. She also had some wonderful neighbors, Evie Bush, Mike Forand, Bill Quinn and the Bouchard family, Loretta, Ben, Clare, Elise and especially little Emily who was always a ray of sunshine to Ida.

Relatives and friends may call Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin Street, Ticonderoga. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church of Ticonderoga. The Rev. William G. Muench, pastor, will officiate. The Rite of Committal will follow at the family plot of St. Mary's Parish Cemetery, Alexandria Avenue, Ticonderoga.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ida's name can be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church Restoration Capital Fund, 22 Father Jogues Place, Ticonderoga, NY 12883; or Bethlehem Monastery of Poor Clares, c/o Sister Mary Agnes, Mount St. Francis, 5500 Holly Fork Road, Barhamsville, VA 23011.

Ida's family would like to thank the caring physicians, nurses, aides and therapists of the Inter-Lakes Health Center who took care of Aunt Ida in these last difficult months, Dr. Roy Kline of Glens Falls and Sandi Urban with Essex County office for the Aging.

Evelyn Lorraine Stearns

PERU -- Evelyn Lorraine Stearns, 82, formerly of the Clark Road in Peru, died Sunday, Nov. 27, 2005, at the Cedar Hedge Nursing Home in Rouses Point, N.Y.

She was born in Brewer, Maine, on June 30, 1923, the daughter of Monie L. and Mildred (Tibbets) Tedford.

Lorraine attended Burdett Business Collage in Boston, Mass., worked as a clerk for the FBI in Washington, DC during World War II.

She married Leon Hatfield in Washington in 1943, who was killed in Germany in 1945.

She then worked for the InterAmerican Geodetic Survey in Panama for 5 years.

Lorraine then married Clifford Stearns at Hamilton Field, Calif., in 1948. Mr. Steams died in 1994.

She worked as an accounting clerk for the Aluminum Company of America in Massena, N.Y., for 27 years, retiring in 1983.

Lorraine was a member of St. Augustine's Church in Peru and was a former member of the Waddington, N.Y., Rescue Squad.

Survivors include her one son, Paul J. Stearns and his wife Paullette of Peru; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Jessica Provost her husband Jessie and their son, Alexander of Colorado Springs, Colo., Jason Stearns his wife Camile and their son Ethan of St. Petersburg, Fla., Jodi Stearns of Colorado Springs and Justin Steams of Schenectady, N.Y.; one brother, James and his wife Laila Tedford of Hood River, Ore.; two sisters, Jean Bach and Pauline Tedford both of Watertown; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial funeral service will be held Wednesday, Nov. 30 at St. Augustine's Church at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the New Waddington Cemetery, Waddington, N.Y., in the spring.

Donations in her memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Lorraine requested that Mass cards instead of flowers would be greatly appreciated.

The R.W. Walker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Arnold N. King

MOOERS -- Arnold N. King, 92, of Mooers, died Saturday, Nov. 26, 2005, at the Cedar Hedge Nursing Home in Rouses Point.

He was born in Champlain on May 15, 1913, the son of Joseph and Laura (LaValley) King.

He was employed as a mason for many years for Murnane Construction and Fitzpatrick Construction in Plattsburgh and was a member of the Bricklayers and Craftworkers Union.

He loved gardening and flowers. He was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church in Mooers.

He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Gerald and Jane King of Tuscon, Ariz.;, a daughter and son-in-law, Scarlett and Bruce Sample of Mooers; six grandchildren and spouses, Wanda Sample, Allen and Kim Sample, Jim and Denise Sample, Lee and Trena Sample, Tracy King and Chris Kuszmaul and Debbie King; eight great-grandchildren, Ryan and Justin Sample, Kaleb and Kolby Sample, Devyn and Adisyn Sample and James and Jane Kuszmaul; and several nieces and nephews.

His wife, Eva (West) King, died on Nov. 13,1986. His parents; two brothers, Milton and Wallace King; and a sister, Flossie Guerin, also died earlier.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Mooers. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday from St. Joseph's Church in Mooers. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Mooers Fire Department or Mooers Rescue Squad.

Michael J. LePage

PERU -- Michael J. LePage, 22, treasured son, brother, grandson, nephew, uncle and cousin passed into heaven Sunday, Nov. 27, 2005, at his home.

Michael, the youngest child in his family, was loved passionately by his parents and older brothers and sisters.

He was born in Plattsburgh, May 6, 1983.

Michael brought great joy and pride to all his family and friends. His sense of humor and positive energy was contagious and will be cherished forever.

Michael had the talents and gifts to excel at anything he put his mind on. He loved to play his guitar, piano and keyboard. He was an honor student at Peru Central School, excelled at basketball and soccer and was scheduled to graduate from Clinton Community College this December.

His most difficult task was to seek personal peace. He accomplished this with determination and dignity the last months of his life. May he always be remembered for this effort.

Survivors include his parents, Jay and Angie LePage of Peru; brother, David LePage of Plattsburgh; sister and brother-in-law, Nicole and Joseph Bodenrader of Maynard, Mass.; sister, Katherine LePage of Plattsburgh; brother and sister-in-law, Christopher and Amanda LePage of Peru; his niece and nephew, Abigail Bodenrader and Brandon LePage; maternal grandparents, Rubin and Monica Remillard of Peru; paternal grandmother, Gertrude Adams of Peru; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and close family friends who all cherished his precious life.

He was predeceased by his paternal grandfather, Robert Adams, June 18, 2001.

Calling hours will be private for family. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 2 p.m. at St. Augustine's Church in Peru with Rev. Alan D. Shnob, pastor, celebrating, and Rev. William G. Reamer, CVPH chaplain, concelebrating. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

Donations in Michael's memory may be made payable to Credo Community Center, c/o Donald F. Pond Sr., Men's Residence, in hopes that others may seek support and peace during recovery. Donations may also be made to St. Augustine's Church where he received the sacraments and where others can seek solace.

Arrangements are by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru.

Margaret Gonyo

CHAZY -- Margaret Gonyo, 85, of Chazy, died Saturday, Nov. 26, 2005, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Saranac on March 22, 1920, the daughter of Daniel and Melissa (Stanley Behan).

She is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Arthur and Elnor Gonyo Jr. of Chazy, Kenneth and Karla Gonyo Sr. of West Chazy, Dale Gonyo and companion Amy Mitchell of Chazy and children Dale Jr. and Abigale; two daughters, Monna Fountain of Chazy and Donna Weightman of Chazy; seven grandchildren and their families: Kenneth (Rob) and Lisa Gonyo Jr. and their children Rachel and Jacob of Peru, Keith and Karen Gonyo and children Elyse and Andrew of Macungie, Penn., Kevin and Myra Gonyo and son, Christopher, of Hilton, N.Y., Daryl Weightman and companion Todd Bourgois of Chazy, Jason Fountain and companion, Laurie Goddeau, and son, Jonathan Fountain, of West Chazy; sisters-in-law Ruth Parrotte of West Chazy, Joyce Rushford of Sun Valley, Nev., and Lorraine Gonyo of Altona; a brother-in-law Edwin Sterling of Rouses Point; and several nieces and nephews.

Her husband of 46 years, whom she married Oct. 28, 1938, Arthur Gonyo Sr., died on Feb. 22, 1984. Two brothers, two sisters and a son-in-law, Dale Weightman of Chazy, also died earlier.

Calling hours were from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at O'Neill-Redden-Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. today from Sacred Heart Church in Chazy. Interment will follow at Whispering Maples Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Plattsburgh. Memorial donations may be made to Champlain Volunteer Fire Department.

Deaths: 

HERBERT L. BADORE, 73, of Falling Leaf Drive, Malone, N.Y., died Saturday, Nov. 26, 2005, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center.

He was born Jan. 23, 1932, in Constable, N.Y., the son of Willard W. and Carrie Thomas Badore.

Calling hours will be Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the St. Mary-Murphy Funeral Home chapel. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Notre Dame Church. Burial will take place in St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery in Constable.