Obituaries: 01/19/06

Elva Marie Chalifou

MOOERS -- Elva Marie Chalifou, 80, of Mooers died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2006 at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Plattsburgh on Dec. 31, 1925, the daughter of Louis and Cora (Young) Sorrell.

Elva Marie married Harold Chalifou in 1952. She worked at Supreme Footwear in Mooers for a number of years. In addition to being a homemaker, she also worked on the dairy farm she owned

with her husband, Harold.

She is survived by a son, Mark Daust of Mooers; several nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. She is also survived by her cousin and his wife, Donald and Bernice Barcomb, who were always there when she needed them.

Her husband, Harold Chalifou, died on Dec. 22, 1996. Her parents and three sisters, Rita Boulriss, Pauline Alfieri and Gertrude Sorrell, died earlier.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Mooers. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, from St. Joseph's Church in Mooers. Interment will be in the parish cemetery in the spring.

Albert R. Montanaro III

AUSABLE CHASM -- Albert R. "Bert" Montanaro III, 20, of the Old State Road, AuSable Chasm, died Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, when a speeding car killed him while he was running east on the Port Kent Road between AuSable Chasm and Port Kent.

He was born in Plattsburgh, Jan. 27, 1985.

Albert graduated from AuSable Valley Central School in June, 2003 and from Clinton Community College in December, 2004. He was a senior at Cortland State University majoring in criminology. Albert loved all sports and was an active participant in baseball, soccer, football, golf, tennis, pond hockey and beer pong. He aspired to become a NYS Trooper and a professional umpire. He had been an umpire in the Clinton County Youth Bureau since age 14.

He is survived by his parents, Albert R. Jr. and Nora-Autumn (Finn) Montanaro; two brothers, Thomas "Tommy" and Lawrence "Domo"; maternal grandmother (first grandchild of 14), Elizabeth Finn of Bayville, Long Island; paternal grandmother, Concetta Montanaro of Gloversville; several aunts, uncles and cousins; and a host of fantastic friends.

Calling hours will be held Friday, Jan. 20, 2006, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday, at 11 a.m. at St. John's Church in Keeseville with Monsignor Leeward J. Poissant, pastor, celebrating.

Burial will follow in the AuSable Chasm Cemetery. A gathering will follow at The River Bend Restaurant in Keeseville.

In lieu of flowers please honor Albert's memory with a donation to an athletic scholarship to be established at the AuSable Valley High School and/or the purchase of Gideon bibles.

Irene W. LaPointe

CHAZY -- Irene W. LaPointe, 90, of Ratta Road, died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in Chazy on Aug. 21, 1915, the daughter of Victor and Lillian (Wells) Poissant.

Mrs. LaPointe married David J. LaPointe, Sr. on Aug. 10, 1934, at Sacred Heart Church.

David died May 2,1994. Irene worked as a telephone operator at the age of 65 for the Champlain Phone Company.

Survivors include three sons, Donald D. LaPointe, Ronald V. LaPointe and Daniel B. LaPointe all of Chazy; two daughters, Lillian M. Reynolds of Chazy and Mrs. Bruce (Carol) Dragon of Georgia; one brother, Peter Poissant of Chazy; 19 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 9 great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by one son, David J. LaPointe Jr. in 1999.

Calling hours will be held on Friday 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 Saturday at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Chazy. Burial will be at a later date in the spring in Ingraham Cemetery in Chazy.

Memorial donations may be made to The Chazy Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 116, Chazy, NY 12921.

John F. Briggs

MINEVILLE, N.Y. -- John F. Briggs, 50, died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006 at CVPH Medical Center after a courageous battle with diabetes, surrounded by his family.

Born on Dec. 10, 1955, in Elizabethtown, N.Y., he was the son of Helen Jaquish Conway of Moriah Center, N.Y., and Richard Briggs of Tupper Lake, N.Y.

John is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kim Briggs of Mineville, N.Y.; his mother and step-father, Helen and Bill Conway of Moriah Center, N.Y.; his father, Richard Briggs and step-mother, Beverly Briggs; John's five children, Jennifer Briggs of Moriah, John Jr. of Corinth, N.Y., Tara Mero and her husband Don of Mineville, Abbey Briggs of Boston, Mass. and Dillon Briggs of Mineville; also his four grandsons, Tommy, Jack, Liam and Jeremy; and one granddaughter Adlin. He is also survived by four brothers, Dick of Saratoga, Tom of Moriah Center, Steven of Warrensburg and Glenn of Moriah Center; two sisters Vicky Boyea of Moriah Center and Julie Hargett of Porters Corners, N.Y.; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. John also left behind a very dear friend Gail Cotter Ody.

There will be no calling hours at John's request.

Deaths:

MARY R. ERNO, 79, formerly of Lake Placid died Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, at Copley Hospital in Morrisville, Vt.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday, Jan. 21, at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Church in Morrisville, Vt.

Visitation is Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the White-Fiess Funeral Home, Morrisville (802) 888-2865. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery, Lake Placid in the spring.

Memorials may be made to the Lamoille Area Cancer Network, P.O. Box 38, Lake Elmore, VT 05657.

WALTER R. LAVALLEY, 72, of Champlain died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, at his home.

Calling hours will be Friday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home in Champlain.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday, at St. Joseph's Church in Coopersville.