Obituaries: 5/9/06

H.M. Dukett

SARANAC LAKE -- H.M. Dukett, 90, of Saranac Lake, passed away Saturday, May 6, 2006, at his home.

Born Jan. 9, 1916, in Keene, N.Y., he was the son of H. Sylvester and Edith (Collins) Dukett and a lifelong resident of the Adirondacks.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army where he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement and the Purple Heart for wounds received in action during the Battle of the Bulge.

In 1950, he graduated from St. Lawrence State Hospital School of Nursing, then immediately began his 31 years of employment as a registered nurse at Sunmount in Tupper Lake.

Mr. Dukett was a member and senior warden of the Church of St. Luke. His pastimes and hobbies included boating, fishing, camping and photography. One of his greatest accomplishments was building the family home that served as their residence for 60 years.

He was predeceased by a daughter, Evelyn Nancy, in 1956.

Mr. Dukett is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Lucy Wilson Dukett; three daughters and their spouses, the Rev. Royal and Patricia Mattoon of Westminster, Md., Michael and Denise Caselli of Hudson Falls and the Rev. David and Michele Boyea of Tupper Lake; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, G. Louise Gardner of Saranac Lake and Audrey G. Cochran of Massena; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home, 20 Church Street, Saranac Lake, N.Y., from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. The funeral service will take place Thursday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at North Elba Cemetery in Lake Placid.

Donations in his name may be made to the Saranac Lake Fire Department Rescue Squad or the Church of St. Luke in care of the funeral home.

Georgianna E. Barnes

TICONDEROGA, NY -- Georgianna E. Barnes, 77, of Delano Road, Ticonderoga, N.Y., died Sunday, March 19, 2006, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

She was born Feb. 23, 1929, in Port Henry, N.Y., the daughter of Leo and Margaret (Guyette) Fleury.

She is survived by her husband, Francis Barnes of Ticonderoga; a son, Raymond Barnes of Gorham, Maine; two daughters, Holly Barnes and Tamara Anderson, both of Ticonderoga; her brother, Leo Fleury of Elizabethtown; and her sister, Laura Wojewodzic of Port Henry; also eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

She is predeceased by her brother, Woody Fleury.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated for Georgianna on Tuesday, May 9, 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Ticonderoga, N.Y. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Port Henry at 3 p.m.

Arrangements are with the Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry.

Madison Shae Hall

TICONDEROGA -- Our precious angel and princess, Madison Shae Hall, 6 years old, of Ticonderoga, went to be with our Lord on Monday, May 8, 2006, after a three-year brave and courageous battle with neuroblastoma.

She was born on Dec. 30, 1999, in Glens Falls, the daughter of Dannae (Whalen) and Matthew Hall of Ticonderoga and younger sister of her beloved brothers, Trevor J. Connery of Saratoga and Brandon M. Whalen of Ticonderoga.

She will be greatly missed for her gentle grace, love of life, and sense of humor. Maddie loved her family, her dog, Buddy, her cat Whiskers, her many dear friends, teachers and her kindergarten classmates at St. Mary's School.

Her favorite things to do were horseback riding, swimming, making crafts, watching Full House, riding her bike and 4-wheeler, making puzzles and playing with her friends. She especially loved her Princess dolls and Baby Chou Chou, attending kindergarten, learning to ice skate, saying the rosary, eating ice cream from the Wind Chill and traveling to Maine to visit family.

Maddie never gave up in her fight with cancer, battling courageously to the very end. She was particularly proud to have been chosen to participate in Melodies of Christmas, a fund raiser for the Albany Children's Medical Center. Maddie had fond memories of visiting Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios last May with her family, made possible through the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She and her family are grateful to the many doctors, nurses and support staff who helped make her feel loved and special at Albany Children's Medical Center. She was loved there for her love of life, beautiful eyes, and contagious smile. Her courage and gentle grace made her a welcome patient at the hospital. The nurses joked that they would fight to get her as a patient when she was admitted for fevers and treatments. Her family would like to thank all of the staff who worked with Maddie over the years since her diagnosis, as well as Jen, her hospice nurse.

Maddie is loved and will be greatly missed by her parents and brothers; maternal grandmother, "Nene" Mamie Whalen of Ticonderoga; paternal grandparents, Paula and William Rosenberger of Latham and James Hall of Florida; great-grandmother, Joan DeRosia of Ticonderoga; aunts and uncles, Jim and Diane Whalen of Maine, Michael and Karen Whalen of Maine, Tammy and Steve Polley of Maine, Tiffany Raymond of Maine, Hillary Hall of Maine, Kristina Rosenberger of Scotia and Victor Scuderi of Latham; cousins, Ashley and Allie Whalen of Maine, Michael and Tony Whalen of Maine and Kelsey and Marisa White of Maine; Godparents, Bud and Kristin Dickerson of Ticonderoga; and many more family and friends whose lives she touched.

She was predeceased by her maternal grandfather, the Honorable Donald Whalen of Ticonderoga; and also by her great-grandfather, Richard De Rosia of Ticonderoga.

Maddie's family wishes to thank all those touched by Maddie's profound joy of life for their love, prayers, support and concern for her well-being during her short time on Earth. Words cannot describe her life, but those she touched understand what a gift she was to our world. Although many may be heartbroken that a miracle did not occur, and that she left us far too soon, it is important to remember how blessed we were to have been given her at all. God graced us with this beautiful, wonderful princess of angels who was able to come to our world for 6 years to teach us joy, kindness, forgiveness, suffering and strength and a heavenly unconditional love that few are able to give.

Relatives and friends may call Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin Street, Ticonderoga.

A Mass of the Angels will be celebrated Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church of Ticonderoga. The Rev. William G. Muench, Pastor, will officiate. The Rite of Committal will follow at the family plot of St. Mary's

Parish Cemetery of Ticonderoga.

A reception will be held at the Ticonderoga Elks Lodge, following the wake service on Tuesday evening and also following the committal service on Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Madison's memory to Children's Hospital Child Cancer Program, Albany Medical Center Foundation, PO Box 8928, Albany, NY 12208; or St. Mary's School Adopt-A-Student Program, 22 Father

Jogues Place, Ticonderoga, NY 12883; or Make-a-Wish Foundation, 950 New Loudon Road, Suite 280, Latham, NY.

Loretta Eleanor Merrick

MALONE -- Mrs. Loretta Eleanor Merrick, 82, of Malone, died at her home Sunday, May 7, 2006.

She was born in Malone July 11, 1923, the daughter of Leo and Lillian Marshall Fleury, who predeceased her.

Mrs. Merrick graduated from St. Joseph's Urusline Academy.

She married Kenneth D. Merrick April 7, 1947, at Notre Dame Church in Malone. He predeceased her May 19, 2000.

Mrs. Merrick and her husband built and operated the Breezy Acre Drive-in Restaurant, then later built and operated the Breezy Acre Restaurant and Motel. In 1956, they purchased the old Duquette Cabins on East Main Street Road and constructed and operated Merrick's Motel. Upon retirement they moved to Bradenton, Florida, and Franklin, N.C., where they were in the construction business. She and her husband started the first snowmobile club in Malone, taught snowmobile safety classes and were instrumental in starting the first snowmobile races in Malone including the Malone AMVETS races. They also were founders of a snowmobile search and rescue team which was recognized by Senator Stafford in the New York State Senate. Mrs. Merrick was a member of Notre Dame Church and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, Donald and his wife Debbie Merrick of Malone and Keith and his wife Jennifer Merrick of Candler, N.C.; a daughter, Mrs. Joseph (Judith) Witt of Port Charlotte, Fla.; seven grandchildren, David and Donald Merrick of Malone, Danielle Merrick Hizer of Greensboro, N.C., John Thomas Mercer of Fulton, N.Y., Christopher Scott Mercer of Savannah, Ga., Mrs. Tonya Salas of Anchorage, Alaska, and Mrs. Jennifer Jo Jones of Candler, NC.; she in also survived by eleven great-grandchildren. She in survived by 6 brothers and a sister, Neil, Louis and Hayden Fleury of Malone, Erwin Fleury of Constable, Armand Fleury of Manassas, Va., Vincent Fleury of Orchard Park, Wash., and Mrs. Vernon (Lorraine) Bissonette of Brockport, N.Y. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a brother, Camille of Malone; and a sister, Mrs. Osabold (Sandra) Barney of Connecticut.

There will be no calling hours. A private service for family and friends will be held at the convenience of the family.

Interment will be in Norte Dame Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Franklin Academy Board of Trustees "Kenneth and Loretta Merrick Memorial Scholarship Fund" or the Malone Call Fireman.

Arrangements by the Spaulding Funeral Home of Malone.

Deaths:

MARILYN J. BROWN, 50, of Broad Street, Port Henry, N.Y., died Thursday, May 4, 2006, in Crown Point, N.Y.

She was born May 19, 1955, in Minneapolis, Minn., the daughter of Ronald and Patricia (Krugar) Sheetz.

Calling hours will be held Sunday, May 14, 2006, from 2 to 2:30 p.m. at the Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry. A memorial service will follow at 2:30 p.m.