Obituaries: 03/07/06

Mary Brennan

MEADOWBROOK, Pa. -- Sister Mary Brennan, GNSH (Sister St. Clare) passed away on March 3, 2006, at St. Joseph's Manor, Meadowbrook, Pa., in the 54th year of her religious life.

Sister Mary's career as a nurse spanned more than 35 years, with most of that in the North Country. A native of Mineville, N.Y., she earned a nursing diploma from the Champlain Valley Hospital School of Nursing in Plattsburgh and was a staff nurse in the hospital for one year before entering the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart in 1952. In 1955, she returned to CVH to supervise a medical surgical unit and later the operating room. She was promoted to Director of Nursing Service in 1959, a post she held until 1963. After receiving her BSN from D'Youville College in Buffalo, in 1966 she became Director of Nursing at the A. Barton Hepburn Hospital (now Claxton "" Hepburn Medical Center) in Ogdensburg, N.Y., where she remained for 22 years.

After retiring from the hospital, she served as Pastoral Associate at Notre Dame Church in Ogdensburg. In 1992, she moved to the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart Motherhouse where she served as head nurse in the Motherhouse Infirmary, caring for the sisters in residence there. From 1995 to 2002, Sister Mary continued to serve her sisters in various ways until her health declined. She spent her remaining years in prayer and bringing a smile to many with her ready wit.

One of triplets born to John and Harriet Genier Brennan on May 9, 1931, her brother, Robert and sister, Dorothy Brennan Huchro survive her. In addition to her religious family, she is also survived by brothers, John and Michael; and sister, Margaret Fitzgerald; as well as several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents; and brother, Richard.

Prayer service at 7 p.m. Monday, March 6 and funeral Mass at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart Motherhouse, 1750 Quarry Road, Yardley, PA 19067. Burial in Resurrection Cemetery with arrangements by Beck-Givnish Funeral Homes.

Memorial donations may be made to the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart.

James K. Higgins

PLATTSBURGH -- James K. Higgins, 54, of C.L. Stone Drive, died Sunday, March 5, 2006, at the CVPH Medical Center.

He was born in Peekskill, N.Y., on March 2, 1952, the son of William and Doris (Smith) Higgins.

James married the former Diane Carroll in Peru on Dec. 29, 2000.

He worked at Lowe's Home Improvement Center in Plattsburgh and later as a commercial account executive for Unicel until January 2006. Mr. Higgins was a member of Make A Wish Foundation and a former member of Royal Order of the Moose Lodge.

Survivors include his wife, Diane Higgins of Plattsburgh; two stepsons, Sean Gittens and his wife Kim of Gloversville, N.Y., and Jeremy Gittens and his wife Deanna of Keeseville, N.Y.; one granddaughter, Victoria Brown of Gloversville; his father-in-law, Eugene Carroll of Morrisonville; three brothers, William Higgins of San Jose, Calif., Dennis Higgins and his wife Louann of Clinton Corners, N.Y., and Alan Covert and his wife Mary Lou of Redford, N.Y.; two sisters, Barbara Piehler of Peekskill, N.Y., and Carol Covert of Albany, N.Y.; one brother-in-law, Clyde Carroll of Plattsburgh; and one sister-in-law, Starr Carroll of Norwich, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. in the R.W. Walker Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in the spring in the Cadyville Protestant Cemetery in Cadyville.

Memorial donations may be made to the Make A Wish Foundation.

Lloyd Smith

AUSABLE FORKS -- Lloyd Smith, 73, died Monday, March 6, 2006, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

He was born March 12, 1932, in Jay, N.Y., the son of William H. and Ethel (Reed) Smith.

Lloyd worked for the Department of Transportation out of Keeseville for 25 years. He was a member of the AuSable Forks Fire Department for 36 years and a past commissioner for the AuSable Forks Fire Department. Lloyd was a life time member of The American Legion Post 504 in AuSable Forks.

He was a avid hunter and fisherman. Lloyd was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He married his wife, Helen (Lozier) Smith on June 27, 1953, at Holy Name Church in AuSable Forks.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Smith; and five sons, Harland Smith of Port Kent, Bruce Smith of AuSable Forks, Keith and his wife Sandra Smith of Florida, Patrick and his wife Marianne Smith of AuSable Forks and Scott Smith of Wilmington; three brothers, James and Carolyn Smith of West Chazy, George and Sylvia Smith of AuSable Forks and Vince Smith of AuSable Forks; one sister, Eleanor and Allen Dickerson of Elizabethtown; and sisters-in-law, Frances Smith of Lake Placid, Marion Smith of AuSable Forks and Evie Smith of Plattsburgh; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by four brothers and two sisters, Clarence, Raymond, William, Horatio (Bucky) Smith and Janet Gillian and Mary King.

Calling hours will be held Tuesday, March 7, 2006, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home in AuSable Forks, N.Y. Funeral services will be Wednesday, March 8, 2006, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the spring at Fairview Cemetery in AuSable Forks.

Memorials may be made to AuSable Forks Fire Department, AuSable Forks Volunteer Ambulance Service and the American Legion Post 504.

Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Louise M. Sorrell

PLATTSBURGH -- Mrs. Louise M. Sorrell, 75, of Route 22, Plattsburgh, passed away Sunday, March 5, 2006, at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in Altona, N.Y., on Aug. 3, 1930, the daughter of John and Viola (Seguare) Arquette.

Louise worked at Champlain Valley Hospital for many years and later at Hydro Molding for 17 years.

She enjoyed watching soap operas and playing bingo.

Louise was predeceased by her parents, John and Viola Arquette; her husband, Joseph Sorrell; and a sister, Rose Eldred.

She is survived by a sister, Ruth Stone and her husband Jule of West Chazy; a brother, Robert Arquette and his companion Ruth Dixon of West Chazy; several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh. A funeral service will follow at 8:30. Interment will be at a later date at St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Chazy.

Friends wishing may make donation's to the S.P.C.A.

Linda Papin

PLATTSBURGH -- Linda "Slug" Papin, 58, of Pear Street, Plattsburgh passed away Sunday, March 5, 2006, at the CVPH Medical Center with her family by her side.

She was born in Watertown, N.Y., on July 3, 1947, the daughter of Harold Everett and Ruth Doris (Davis) Hunt Sr.

Linda was an avid bowler, having bowled in the Casino League at North Bowl Lanes where she received the Most Improved Average. She enjoyed camping and reading.

Linda was predeceased by her parents, Harold and Ruth Hunt Sr.; her sisters, Ruth Ann Brink and Emma Jean Dominie; and a brother, Harold Everett Hunt Jr.

She is survived two sons, Charles Hunt and his wife Michelle of Plattsburgh and Jerry Waite and his wife Teresa of Altona; two daughters, Loretta "Gert" Waite and her companion Buck Boula of Plattsburgh and Kelly Hunt of Plattsburgh; seven sisters, Edna Wilson of Atlanta, Ga., Nancy Bengtsson of Plattsburgh, Leona Hunt of Plattsburgh, Kay Martin and her husband Al of Plattsburgh, Penny VanValkenburg and her husband Rick of Plattsburgh, Donna Doolittle and her husband Clyde of Lafargeville, N.Y., and Margaret Hunt of Iowa; three brothers, Elmer Hunt and his wife Louanne of Watertown, James Hunt of Plattsburgh and Robert Hunt of Florida; nine grandchildren, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Freeman, Shanna Freeman, Makayla Long, Philip Long, Cody Waite, Haydee Waite, Alyza Agoney and Octavia Waite; several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will follow at 8:30 with the Rev. Clark Callander, Pastor of the United Methodist Church officiating.

Friends wishing may make donations to the FitzPatrick Cancer Center.