Obituaries: 12/17/05

Danny F. Lapham

PLATTSBURGH -- Danny F. Lapham, 47, of the Town Line Road in West Chazy, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, in Utica, N.Y. Danny was born in Plattsburgh on Feb. 5, 1958, son of Lloyd and Bernice (Reid) Lapham.

Danny attended St. John's Academy. He was employed by Esposito's and Son's Trucking for many years. Danny was a dedicated husband, father, son and grandfather.

Danny enjoyed cooking, landscaping, vintage cars and spending time with his family and friends.

Danny is survived by his wife of 20 years, the former Tammy (Smith) Lapham of West Chazy; two daughters, Clorisa Lapham of West Chazy, Christina (Lapham) Baker and her husband Matthew of Highland; a son, Christopher Lapham of West Chazy; two loving granddaughters, Jeannie Baker and Julia Madison Danielle Baker of Highland; his parents, Lloyd and Bernice Lapham of Plattsburgh; two brothers, Arnold Lapham of Plattsburgh, Richard Lapham of Plattsburgh. Danny is also survived by several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, at 10 a.m. from St. Alexander's Church in Morrisonville. Burial will be later next year in the St. Alexander's Cemetery.

Karen L. VanNortwick

MORRISONVILLE -- Karen L. VanNortwick, 46, of Sand Road, died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in Plattsburgh on Oct. 31, 1959, the daughter of Homer and Mildred (Lucia) Burdo.

Karen worked at Mold Rite Plastics in Plattsburgh as a machine operator. She loved shopping, bingo, camping, boating and especially being with her family.

Survivors include her husband, Philip VanNortwick of Morrisonville; one daughter, Danielle Lee VanNortwick of Morrisonville; one son, Philip VanNortwick Jr. of Morrisonville; her mother-in-law, Margaret VanNortwick of Plattsburgh; her mother and father, Homer and Mildred Burdo of Plattsburgh; four brothers, Gerald and Karen Burdo of Plattsburgh, Gary Burdo and Cindy Burdo of AuSable, Jimmy and Diane Burdo of Peru and Steve and Mary Lou Burdo, of Jericho; five brothers-in-law and seven sisters-in-law, William and Shirley VanNortwick of Plattsburgh, Mary and Joseph Colwell of New Paltz, N.Y., Don Juan and Virginia VanNortwick of Plattsburgh, Alice VanNortwick of Vermont, Joan VanNortwick of Springfield, Mass., Angela VanNortwick of Plattsburgh, Mark and Gemma Orzech of Morrisonville and Timothy VanNortwick of Plattsburgh; 29 nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was predeceased by her father-in-law, William VanNortwick; and her grandparents, Peter and Nellie Burdo and Edward and Sadie Lucia.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday from 1 to 5 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 Our Lady of Victory Church in Plattsburgh.

Entombment will be in Whispering Maples Memorial Gardens, Tom Miller Road, Plattsburgh.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of The North Country.

Robert J. Irwin

AU SABLE FORKS --Robert J. Irwin, 77, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2005, at his home in AuSable Forks, N.Y.

He was born Sept. 10, 1928, in AuSable Forks, the son of Robert and Eleanor (Denette) Irwin.

He served in the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1954 in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the American Legion Post 504 in AuSable Forks. He worked for the J. and J. Rogers paper mill in AuSable Forks for many years.

He is survived by one brother and sister-in-law and one sister, Wilfred and Sally Irwin of Winooski, Vt., and Theresa Smith of Keeseville, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two brothers and one sister, Lloyd Irwin, Daniel Irwin and Esther Gifford.

Calling hours will be Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home in AuSable Forks. A funeral will be held on Monday, Dec. 19, at 11 a.m. at Holy Name Catholic Church in AuSable Forks. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

Memorials donations may be made to AuSable Volunteer Ambulance Service.

The Zaumetzer - Sprague Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Grace Mary Crowley

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Grace Mary Crowley, 66, of Sioux Falls, S.D., died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, at her residence.

Grace Mary Facteau was born Oct. 15, 1939, to Mose and Nora (Kipp) Facteau in Plattsburgh, N.Y. She grew up in Plattsburgh, graduating from D'Youville Academy.

Grace met Airmen 2nd Class Larry C. Crowley of the U.S. Air Force and they were married March 1, 1958. They lived around the world, living in California, Spain, New York, Michigan, Italy and finally retiring in Rapid City, S.D. Grace moved to Sioux Falls after Larry passed away on March 25, 1995. Grace was a visitation nurse for Sioux Valley Clinic until her death.

She enjoyed reading, knitting, traveling and most of all, spending time with all of her grandchildren.

Grateful for having shared her life are her sons, Larry C. (Lin) Crowley Jr. and their children, Alicia and Breanna of Olympia, Wash., and Michael (Jamie) Crowley and their children, Ashley, Caitlyn and Nicholas of Sioux Falls; sisters, Cecilia Reavis of PIattsburgh, N.Y., Veronica Thomas of Van Nuys, Calif., Lenora Witt of Plattsburgh, N.Y., and Marilyn Facteau of Kettering, Ohio. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Larry Sr.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, Dec. 19, at 3 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church. The family will be present from 2 p.m. until the time of the service at Peace Lutheran Church.

Miller Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Verna Marie Burns

PLATTSBURGH -- Verna Marie Burns, 88, passed away on Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, at the Meadowbrook Healthcare Facility after a long illness.

She was born in Plattsburgh on Feb. 6, 1917, the daughter of Martha and Burton Coryer.

She married Loyal Burns on Nov. 26, 1938, at the Methodist Church in Plattsburgh.

She was employed for over 20 years by the Plattsburgh City School District in food service, retiring in 1982. She was a life member of the United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Burns is survived by her husband, Loyal; one daughter, Bonnie Benton and her husband Marvin of Plattsburgh; two sons, Jeff Burns and his wife Judy of Chillicothe, Ohio, and Scott Burns and his wife Elizabeth of Oswego, N.Y. She loved and cherished her grandchildren, Michael Berry and his wife Tracey of Plattsburgh, Martha Berry of Syracuse, Dr. Keri Burns and her husband Dr. Dana Booth of Indianapolis, Matthew and Adam Burns of Columbus and Kate and Owen Burns; and great-grandchildren, Chloe and Cade Berry and James Loyal Booth.

She was predeceased by her brothers, George and Clifford Coryer; and sister, Helen Gates.

She loved spending time with her family and was always their strength and a quiet influence.

Public calling hours will be held on Sunday, Dec. 18, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home, followed by funeral services at 2 p.m.

A memorial reception will be at the Meadowbrook Health Care Facility at 3 p.m.

Burial will be at a later date in Riverside Cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer Disease Assistance Center, Sibley Hall, Plattsburgh State, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

Deaths

RITA M. STONE, 78, of Shingle Street in Morrisonville, died Dec. 16, 2005, at her home.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

LENA M. BAKER, 97, formerly of Val Haven in Peru, died Dec. 16, 2005 at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in Sciota, N.Y., on Sept. 1, 1908, the daughter of Joseph and Laura (LaForest) Baker.

Arrangements are incomplete with the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

MICHAEL J. CLARKE, 63, of 44 Marshall St., Saranac Lake, died Dec. 16, 2005, at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Dec. 27, 1941, the son of John and Margaret (Prendergast) Clarke.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Monday, Dec. 19, from 2 to 3:45 p.m. A prayer service will follow at 3:45 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Thomas Kornmeyer officiating. A veteran's prayer service will immediately follow. Burial will take place at St. Peter's Cemetery in Saratoga, N.Y., at a later date. A reception will immediately follow the prayer service at the Veteran's Memorial Association in Saranac Lake.

ARMAND W. DANIELS SR., 73, of the O'Neil Road, Beekmantown, died unexpectedly Dec. 16, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center.

Calling hours and funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.