Obituaries: 1/21/06

Theresa Penfield

ROUSES POINT -- Theresa Penfield, 78, passed away on Jan. 18, 2006. Theresa was born in Rouses Point on July 12, 1927, to Harrison and Irene (Caouette) Aubrey. She and her father shared the same birthday and celebrated together throughout his life. Theresa attended school in Rouses Point, graduating with a business degree from Rouses Point High School in 1945.

After graduation, Theresa worked for Ayerst McKenna and Plattsburgh State University before taking a job at Sheridan Ironworks, which would come to be her second home and second family. In 1960, Theresa married Raymond Penfield and had two daughters. Theresa was first and foremost a loving mother. She left Harris in 1962 to raise her family, returning in 1978 after a 16-year maternity leave. Theresa took tremendous pride in her work as a personnel administrator and treasured her friendships with fellow employees at Harris. When Harris Graphics closed in 1987, Theresa and her husband, Raymond, began almost 20 years of retirement together, during which they enjoyed travels in Europe and the states and in later years spending time with their young grandchildren. Theresa, with her ever-present smile and boundless energy, always had a special way with children and "Nana" will be dearly missed by her grandchildren.

Rouses Point was Theresa's home for her entire 78 years and the Village, its residents and her Pratt Street neighbors were all sources of great joy to her. Theresa extolled the special qualities of her hometown in all of her travels, often inviting people to visit "the beautiful little community on Lake Champlain, nestled between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks." Theresa served as Village Clerk and she was a member and officer of the Altar and Rosary Society and Catholic Daughters of St. Patrick's Church. She was a founding member of St. Patrick's Choir and her beautiful soprano voice will be missed by many.

Theresa is survived by her loving husband Raymond; her daughter Kelly; her daughter and son-in-law Melissa and Harry McManus; and four grandchildren: Rian (McManus) Branch, Conor McManus and Devin and Meara McManus. Theresa is also survived by her beloved sister, Ruth Letourneau and her much-loved nieces and nephews: Dan, Jan, Nick and Matt Letourneau; Mary, Kenneth and Jacob Lynn; and Bridget O'Connor, to whom she was always "Tesa."

Calling hours were held at the Clark Funeral Home in Rouses Point on Friday, Jan. 20, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Church in Rouses Point on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Theresa's name to the Rouses Point Rescue Squad.

James C. LaPlante

SARANAC LAKE -- James C. LaPlante, 65, died Jan. 18, 2006, at his residence.

Born in AuSable Forks, N.Y., he was the son of the late Clifford and Evelyn (Dinnelle) LaPlante.

He had lived in the Capital District for many years, moving to Saranac Lake in 1997. He served his country during the Vietnam War in the U.S. Army. Mr. LaPlante had worked at Georgia Pacific and later at Cohoes Fabric Co. He loved camping and fishing in the Adirondacks.

Survivors include his wife, Lorraine (LeBoeuf) LaPlante of Saranac Lake; a son, James C. LaPlante Jr. of Mechanicville; he was the stepfather of Timothy Hanley of Saranac Lake, Brian Hanley of Latham, Daniel Hanley and Crystal Lupie, both of Schenectady; brother of John LaPlante of Cohoes, Michael (Darlene) LaPlante of Ravena, Rose (Jerome) Gladney of Coeymans, Loretta Rivera of Selkirk, Patticia (James) Furnia of Arizona, and Rita (James) Nolan of Waterford. Also survived by a grandson; four stepgrandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Calling hours are Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Marra Funeral Home, corner of Remsen and Columbia Streets, Cohoes. Funeral services will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. John Facci officiating. Interment will be in Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.

Donations in Mr. LaPlante's memory may be made to High Peaks Hospice, Saranac Lake, N.Y.

Beverly (Denton) Biro

ELIZABETHTOWN -- Beverly (Denton) Biro, 75, of 16 Noble Terrace, died Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006, at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake. She was born in Huevelton, N.Y., June 13, 1930, the daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Lennon) Denton.

Bev will be remembered for her great sense of humor, practical jokes and the smile on her face when the Yankees lost. She took great pride in her newspaper column "Around Town with Tilly" and received a lot of joy in writing it. She enjoyed playing bingo and her three pets, Buddy, Cozy and Celica, but her grandchildren, Jessica and Casey, were the apple of her eye.

She is survived by her two grandchildren, Jessica Ward and Casey Ward, both of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; three sisters, Sylvia Holmes of Alaska, Janet Norton of Lewis and Nancy Platero of Mineville; and several nieces, nephews and their families.

Calling hours will be held at W.M. Marvin's Sons Funeral Home in Elizabethtown on Sunday, Jan. 22, from 1 to 3 p.m. with a memorial service at 3 p.m.

Donations in Bev's memory may be made to the Westport SPCA, Westport, NY 12993.

Robert J. "Jerry" Cronkrite

WADDINGTON, N.Y. -- Robert J. "Jerry" Cronkrite, 55, of Franklin Road, Waddington, N.Y., died Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006, at his home under the care of his family and hospice, where he had been ill with cancer.

Mr. Cronkrite was employed by NYSDOCS, working at Riverview Correctional Facility in Ogdensburg, retiring after 20 years. He was in the U.S. Air force, serving in Vietnam. Born on Aug. 1, 1950, in Plattsburgh, N.Y., the son of Robert and Geraldine (Gratton) Cronkrite.

He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Travis (Marty-Jo) Seward of Cardinal, Ontario, Mrs. Brad (Heather) Dragon of Altona, N.Y.; a son, Robert J. Cronkrite of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; two sisters, Judy and husband Loren Hazen of Vermont, Kathryn Keable of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; a brother, James and wife Allyson Seward of Chaumont; a brother-in-law, Paul Bombadier of Altona, N.Y.; three grandchildren, Payton and Justin Seward of Ontario, Victoria Dragon of Altona, N.Y.; and the mother of his children, Darlene Armstrong Orzel; 12 nieces and nephews. He leaves behind dear friends Bonnie and John Bashaw Strome of Waddington and John Amell of Flackville, N.Y.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Karen Bombadier and Joy Racine; brother-in-law Bill Paul; and grandson Brady Dragon.

He graduated from Champlain High School. He attended John J. College in fire science theology and later attended SUNY Potsdam in criminal psychology. He married Darlene Armstrong on Nov. 19, 1977, at Rouses Point Presbyterian Church; the marriage ended in divorce. He was a member of the Waddington American Legion Post 420, and a brother in the Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club. He was a volunteer firemen in Rouses Point, Marsellus and Morristown.

Arrangements are being handled by Phillips Memorial Home, Inc., 28 Clinton St., Waddington, N.Y., where the family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23. Funeral service will be at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, with the Rev. Geoff Howard presiding, pastor of the St. Andrews and St. James Church in Cardinal, Ontario. Interment will be at Saratoga National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to CVPH Cancer Center in Plattsburgh.

Henry H. "Hank" Schaefer

COCKEYSVILLE, Md. -- Henry H. "Hank" Schaefer, 64, of Cockeysville, Md., died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2006, at his son's residence in York, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the husband of Elaine M. (Duquette) Schaefer to whom he was married for 41 years.

A celebration of life service will be held at the convenience of the family. Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Road, York, Pa., is in charge of arrangements.

Born Oct. 22, 1941, in Baltimore, Md., a son to the late Ernest L. and Marie R. (Hartley) Schaefer. Mr. Schaefer was an outstanding football player for and 1959 graduate of Loyola High School. He continued his education at Johns Hopkins University, where he was a quarterback on the football team and later served in the U.S. Air Force as a scrub nurse. Mr. Schaefer enjoyed playing bridge and was an avid golfer, who played some of the best courses in the world.

He was employed in the oil and gas industry with Metal Goods, McJunkin and Ballengee Co. over the years. Mr. Schaefer loved to cook and was the proud owner of Hank's Five Corner Restaurant in Charleston, W.Va., where he received "The Taste of Charleston" award twice.

Mr. Schaefer is survived by a son, Henry H. Schaefer II of York; a daughter, Dorothy M. Schaefer Pfaff and the love and sunshine in his life, his granddaughter, Michelle Nicole Pfaff of Syracuse, N.Y.; sisters Anita Clagg of York and Jenny Schaefer-McNulty and her husband. Kevin of Hunt Valley; his mother-in-law; brothers-in-law; many nieces, nephews; great-nieces, great-nephews; and many, many friends.

Mr. Schaefer was preceded in death by two sisters, Loretta P. Higgins and Elizabeth Schaefer.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Greenbaum Cancer Center, RMN9E17, 22 S. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201.

Deaths

AMASA W. MOORE, 83, of the McDonald Road, Mooers Forks, died Jan. 20, 2006, at CVPH Medical Center.

Calling hours will be held Sunday, Jan. 22, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Chateaugay Funeral Home with funeral services set for Monday, Jan. 23, at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel.

A complete obituary will be published at a later date.