01/23/2006

Obituaries: 01/23/06

Robert J. 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 Cronkrite 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. He was a member of the Waddington American Legion Post 420, and a brother in the Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club. He was a volunteer fireman 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.

Bernyce E. Boire

CHAMPLAIN -- Bernyce E. Boire, 90, of Champlain passed away Friday, Jan. 20, 2006, at Meadowbrook Healthcare in Plattsburgh.

She was born Feb. 15, 1915, in Roberts, Wisc., the daughter of Ralph and Hazel (Maynard) Dodds. She graduated from Champlain High School and married Ward J. Boire in 1935. Mrs. Boire was employed by the Mooers Slipper Factory until 1952. She was then employed by the Champlain Telephone Company as a switchboard operator and retired after 25 years of service. She was active in the Order of Eastern Star, Miramichi Chapter, for more than 50 years, holding all of the offices of the organization including district deputy. Mrs. Boire was president of Home Bureau and a member of the Senior Council Board. She was a volunteer driver for RSVP and she served for many years on the Northern Tier Housing Board of Directors, where she held the offices of secretary and treasurer. She also worked as an inspector for the Clinton County Board of Elections for more than 30 years.

Bernyce is survived by two sons, Ralph Boire and his wife, Elizabeth, of Rouses Point and James Boire and his wife, Christina, of Rouses Point; one daughter, Sue Guay and her husband, Frank, of Plattsburgh; three sisters, Glenice Scriver and her husband, Walter, of Champlain, Dorice Clark and her husband, Charles, of North Hero, Vt., and Glorice Phoebus of Melbourne Beach, Fla.; 10 grandchildren, Mark Boire, Lisa VanNatten, Matthew Boire, Jason Guay, Heidi Lawrence, Heather Garrison, Tresa Livernois, Tod Boire, Rob Boire, and Christopher Boire, and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband; a brother, Douglas Dodds; a great-granddaughter, Lauren VanNatten; and a brother-in-law, Louis Pheobus.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the M.B. Clark Funeral Home in Champlain. The Order of the Eastern Star will meet at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Three Steeples United Methodist Church in Champlain. Burial will be in the spring in Mooers Riverside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Foundation of CVPH Medical Center, 75 Beekman St., Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

John A. Barber

PLATTSBURGH -- John A. Barber, 76, formerly of Keeseville, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, at the Evergreen Valley Nursing Home in Plattsburgh.

He was born in Crown Point on Feb. 26, 1929, the son of Percy and Florence (Blaise) Barber.

John served in the United States Army from 1950 until his honorable discharge in 1952. He was stationed in Germany during his service.

He held several positions throughout his life including a corrections officer at Clinton Correctional, a television repairman, and sang and entertained throughout the North Country including a half-hour television program called "Country Corner" on WPTZ, and radio shows on WIRY, WKDR, and WEAV.

He was a member of the Keeseville VFW Post 1505 and a communicant of St. John's Church in Keeseville. John enjoyed bingo, ham radio, crossword puzzles, watching old Westerns, and country music, but his true love was spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include three sons and two daughters-in-law, Tracy L. Barber of Keeseville, Terry A. and Rebecca Barber of Blythe, Ga., and John W. and Kristine Barber of Keeseville; three daughters and one son-in-law, Tammy J. Barber, Susan M. Barber, and Lisa M. and Edwin Emerson, all of Keeseville; a sister, Eleanor Kirk of Greenville, Mass.; 15 grandchildren, Terry Jr., Christina and Christopher Barber, Michael and Shana Barber, Shannon and Nick Covel, Brian and Heidi Miller, Heather Drinkwine, Shawn and Stephanie Davies, Jacob Davies and fiancee Pamela Trombley, Melissa Ormsby, Jeffrey, Jennifer and Tionna Barber, and Shendara and Paolina Emerson; four great-grandchildren, Connor Covel, and Brian Jr., Zachary, and Abigail Miller; and many friends at Evergreen Valley Nursing Home.

Calling hours will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville. A funeral service will follow at the Hamilton Funeral Home at 8 p.m. with Msgr. Leeward J. Poissant, pastor of the Catholic Community of Keeseville, officiating. Burial and full military honors will be in the spring in St. John's Cemetery in Keeseville.

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

Donald W. Hill

BRIDGEWATER -- Donald W. "Bunker" Hill, 67, of U.S. Highway #20, passed away on Saturday evening, Jan. 21, 2006, in his home. He had the comfort of his loving family at his side.

He was born on June 23, 1938, in Richfield Springs, son of the late William and Grace (O'Connor) Hill. Bunker was raised in Richfield Springs and was a graduate of Richfield Springs High School with the class of 1956. He furthered his education at New York State Ranger School, graduating in 1958. In 1959, he entered the U.S. Army and served with the First Cavalry Division in Korea. He was honorably discharged in 1963.

On March 18, 1965, he married the former Donna Oleana in Margaretville. A devoted union of 20 years, she predeceased him on May 22, 1985. For 30 years he worked as a licensed land surveyor for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Adirondack Park Agency, retiring in 1991.

On Oct. 24, 2000 he married Jane Currier in Florida. They have made their home in Bridgewater since that time coming from Homasassa, Fla.

Bunker was someone who enjoyed people as well as the outdoors. In his leisure time he loved to hunt and fish. He was a life member of the Albert A. Gonyea Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3357 Saranac Lake, a member of both the Richfield Springs American Legion Post #616 and the Whiteface Lodge #789 Free & Accepted Masons. He was also very artistic. He painted scenerey and wild animals on slate and saws. He was also known for his two volumes of funny books that he wrote and illustrated. To all that knew him they will always remember his warm smile and friendly manner.

Surviving besides his loving wife, Jane, are one son, Ralph William Hill and his wife, Pamela, of Troy; a daughter, Melissa Barry and her husband, Craig, of Saranac Lake; two sisters, Nina Burdick and her husband, Larry, of West Winfield, Judy and her husband, Howard Davis, of New port; two grandchildren, Cody and Austin Thomas Barry of Saranac Lake; and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents and first wife, a brother, David "Ike" Hill, predeceased him in 1971.

The family will be present in the J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 West James St., Richfield Springs, to receive relatives and friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Interment will take place at later time in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Saranac Lake. Expressions of sympathy may be made with donations to Hospice Inc. Envelopes will be available in the funeral home.

Deaths: 01/23/06

PATRICIA J. KILBURN, 74, of Cottonwood Way, Lake Placid, died Jan. 21, 2006, at Uihlein Mercy Center in Lake Placid.

She was born in Lake Placid on May 5, 1931, the daughter of Michael and Lucinda (Stowe) Grady.

Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Clark Funeral Home in Lake Placid. A funeral service will follow visiting hours at 8 p.m. at the Funeral Home. Burial will be in St. Agnes Cemetery in May.

VERA C. HIRSCH, 98, of Cornelia Street, died Saturday, Jan. 22, 2006, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh. She was born in Russia on July 3, 1907.

Funeral services will be at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements with Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

HELEN M. VENETTE, 92, of Malone died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, at the Alice Hyde Nursing Home in Malone, where she had been a resident since April 2005.

Born in Malone on Dec. 24, 1913, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Desnoyers) Vermette.

Calling hours will be from 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone until funeral services at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. Gus Calvo, rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Malone. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery in Malone in the spring.