Obituaries: 3/2/06

Harry J. Furman

ROUSES POINT -- Harry J. Furman was born in Staten Island, N.Y., on March 29, 1913, to Rose Kushner and Morris Furman.

He married Dorothy Morris in Plattsburgh on Dec. 21, 1941. He served as a first sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II in England and the European Theater. He owned and operated Furman Department Store in Rouses Point with his wife Dorothy from 1947 to 1968. He managed various men's stores in Plattsburgh from 1968 to 1980. He was a Grand Master of the Champlain Masonic Lodge, a member of the Rouses Point American legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and president of the former Champlain Central P.T.A. In addition he was a member of the Champlain Chamber of Commerce, the Rouses Point Golf Club and Temple Beth Israel in Plattsburgh.

Mr. Furman was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Dorothy in 2004; sisters, Betty and Sylvia.

He is survived by his brother, Hal of Eugene, Ore.; his three children, Marvin of Vancouver, Wash., Rick of Montreal, Quebec and Jan of Mont Clair, N.J.; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at Temple Beth Israel in Plattsburgh on Friday, March 3, 2006, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the Temple Beth Israel Cemetery in Plattsburgh. Following the cemetery services, a luncheon will be held at Temple Beth Israel in Plattsburgh. The family will receive visitors and sit Shiva at the family home, 90 Maple St. in Rouses Point from 2 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2006. There will be a Shiva on Monday, March 6, 2006, from 2 to 8 p.m. at 409 Highland Ave., Mont Claire, N.J.

Donations may be made in Mr. Furman's name to Temple Beth Israel in Plattsburgh or the United Jewish Appeal.

Shirley Ann LaFountain

MOOERS FORKS -- Shirley Ann LaFountain, 66, of Cannons Corners Road, Mooers Forks, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006, at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt. She was born in Plattsburgh on Nov. 17, 1939, the daughter of Robert and Mary (Daniels) Reeves.

Shirley enjoyed bingo, cooking and spending time with family and friends. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She was also a member of the Ladies of St. Ann's Church.

She is survived by a son and his wife, William and Mary LaFountain of Mooers Forks; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Shirley and Jeff Gibeau of Champlain, Beth and Jeff LaBombard of Chazy, Theresa Konkoski of Dannemora, Ann and Mark Bushey of Altona; 14 grandchildren, Gary, Rachael and Brittany Palmer, William and April LaFountain, Angela LaFountain, Katie LaFountain and Sadie Gibeau, Jon and Sean Higgins, James LaBombard, Michele Konkoski, Natasha LaGoy and Kyle Bushey, and a great-granddaughter, Kaytlyn LaFountain.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Alfa LaFountain; a daughter, Sandra Palmer; a son-in-law, Gary Palmer; a brother, Elmer Reeves; and her sisters, Alice Forette, Bobbie Barcomb and Helen Reeves.

In honor of Shirley's request, there will be no calling hours.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Friday, from St. Ann's Church in Mooers Forks.

The E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Mooers is in charge of arrangements.

Cheryl Anne Luther

PLATTSBURGH -- Cheryl Anne Luther, of Plattsburgh, N.Y., passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006, at Fletcher Allen Hospital in Burlington, Vt., following a long battle with her GI tract. Cheryl was born to Frederick S. Luther and Marion V. Luther (Craig) on Sept. 15, 1945, in Boston (Chelsea), Mass.

Cheryl is survived by her two sisters, Susan "Diane" Varnell (Luther) and Leilani Alice Vanschulyenburch (Luther) and Leilani's husband Frank; two nephews, Victor L. Varnell and Vaughn "Eric" Varnell; and due to Victor's marriage to Shirley Varnell (Liberty) she is survived by Victor's family including Shirley; and her great-nephew, Alexander D. Varnell whom she cherished and called "Alexander the Great."

Cheryl was predeceased by her mother, Marion V. Luther (Craig) who passed away on July 29, 1979; and just recently her father, Frederick S. Luther passed away on Feb. 21, 2006.

Cheryl was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend some might even say she was a "second mother" to Victor and Eric. First and foremost, Cheryl always cared for her family and friends, and she surrounded them with love and compassion. When Cheryl's mother became ill, she became her mother's primary caregiver, and concurrently helped her sister Diane raise Victor and Eric. Even after Cheryl was dealt illness after illness, she cared for her aging father right up till near the end of his life.

Cheryl retired from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1988 due to illness. She was a dedicated employee and she served on the CSEA union. In addition, Cheryl served on the social committee at SUNY, and was a Shop Steward of the union. Shortly after departure from SUNY, Cheryl developed cancer, but she battled through it and survived. A complication of the radiation treatment is what damaged Cheryl's GI tract and led to Cheryl's passing.

Cheryl loved music and dancing. Two of her favorite entertainers were Bobby Vinton and Elvis Presley. "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" was one of Cheryl's favorite songs, which is fitting because she truly had a green thumb and her favorite flowers, were roses. Cheryl always had a precious smile, which made it easy for people to approach her no matter, where, when, or under any circumstance and led to many friendships throughout her entire life. In addition, Cheryl loved collecting salt and pepper shakers, crocheting, and shopping, which also led to many devoted friends who shared the same mutual interest and passions. Her closest friends will surely miss her whom are, Ethel Duchene, Phyllis, Beverly "Bev," Ruby and Rose.

Last, while Cheryl was struggling this past year, she was blessed with a new friend Mike, who not only was a friend to Cheryl, but in a time of need a friend to Cheryl's whole family.

Although Cheryl may have never earned awards or medals like her father did in World War II, Cheryl herself shines brighter than any award ever could to all of her family and friends.

Cheryl will be laid to rest with her mother and father at the Craig family plot in Saranac, N.Y.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, March 3, 2006, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will take place in the spring in Independence Cemetery in Saranac, N.Y.

Hazel E. Rondot

POWNAL, Vt. -- Hazel Emily (Pray) Rondot, 92, of Pownal, Vt. died Sunday Jan. 22, 2006, at the Williamstown, Mass. Commons. Born in Keeseville, N.Y. on May 6, 1913, she was the daughter of Albert and Louise (Hull) Pray.

She attended schools in Keeseville, N.Y. She was employed for a short time at the General Cable Company and Cornish Wire Company in Williamstown. She also was employed in domestic work with families in New York and Williamstown. She was a long time and active member of the First United Methodist church in Pownal, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Williamstown and a longtime member of the Williamstown Grange 366.

She leaves a brother, John Pray of Keeseville, 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; four step-daughters, Barbara Fantone of Hartford, Conn. and Ocola, Fla., Rose Almond of Bay St. Louis, Miss., Margaret (Bunny) Palmer of Williamstown and Joan Greer of Burleson, Texas.

She is predeceased by her parents; her husband, Francis G. Rondot; and two brothers, Harry and Walter Pray.

There were no calling hours.

A memorial service for Hazel E. Rondot will take place at a later date at the First United Methodist Church in Pownal, Vt. Burial will take place in Oak Hill Cemetery Pownal.

Memorial donations are suggested for the village ambulance or the First United Methodist Church in Pownal through the Flynn and Dagnolit-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 Main St. North Adams, Mass, 01247 who are in charge of arrangements.

Deaths:

JOYCE M. CARR, 71, of Fourth Street, Malone, N.Y., died Tuesday night, Feb. 28, 2006, at the Alice Hyde Nursing Home in Malone.

Born in Malone, Sept. 15, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Alfred and Helen Vermette Taylor.

Calling hours will be Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Entombment will be in the Whispering Maples Memorial Gardens in Ellenburg, N.Y.

DORIS A. KIRKBY, 96, formerly of Essex, died Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh. She was born in Northfield, Maine, on May 28 1909, the daughter of Harry and Hattie (Hoyt) Albee.

There will be no calling hours.

Services will be held at the convenience of the family. The O'Neill-Redden-Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh is in charge of arrangements.

ROLAND PALANGE, 75, of Keene, N.Y., died Feb. 23, 2006, in Burlington, Vt. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 16, 1930, the son of Ernest and Mary (Lombardo) Palange.

Calling hours will be held March 17, 2006, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Marvin's Funeral Home in Elizabethtown.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 18, 2006 at 10 a.m. at St. Elizabeth's Church in Elizabethtown. Burial will be in Norton Cemetery in Keene in the spring.