Obituaries: 05/10/2006

Ilona R. Bethlen

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Ilona R. Bethlen died on May 8, 2006, at Fletcher Allen Hospital in Burlington, Vt.

She was born on April 10, 1921, in Budapest, Hungary, the only child of Dezsö Szentimrey (M.Eng.) and Vilma László de Bàlvànyosalja.

In October 7, 1948, Ilona married Francis Bethlen in Vienna, Austria. They moved to Argentina in 1949, where their daughter Anna Maria was born on Aug. 30, 1949. In 1952, after they moved to the U.S., where she trained thoroughbred race horses. Their son, Mihàly, was born on Feb. 17, 1954. After her husband earned his Master's Degree from Cornell University and his Ph.D. from Purdue University, the Bethlens moved to Plattsburgh, where Dr. Bethlen began his teaching and administration at SUNY Plattsburgh. Mrs. Bethlen served for many years as the Social Advisor to the Phi Kappa Chi Sorority ("Clios"). She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1965.

Ilona Bethlen earned her Baccalaureate Degree from Sancta Maria College (Angolkisasszonyok), Budapest, in 1939; her M.S. in Economics from Regent Joseph Polytechnical University (Budapest) in 1943; her Master's in Music from Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music (Budapest) in 1947; and her B.A. in Interior Design/Home Economics & Arts from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1983.

Mrs. Bethlen's career includes positions as teaching assistant at Economic University (Budapest); librarian and teaching art at Saint Mary's Academy, Clinton Community College and SUNY; freelance jewelry and furniture design in Argentina; interior decorating for American Wallpaper & Paint Company, Buffalo; co-manager of Four Winds Gallery, Ferrisburg, Vt.; interpreter for Champlain U.S. Immigration border crossing; and self-employed artist specializing in hand-painted textiles, murals and decorative arts for department stores in Argentina, Montreal and New York.

Mrs. Bethlen's civic activities included membership in Rotary Clubs (Plattsburgh & Sarasota), American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, The Heart Fund, Chilean Children's Program, CVPH Board of Directors and snack bar volunteer and JCEO board member. In addition, she was a member of AAUW, BPW. She played the piano at a number of Junior League Follies.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Francis; her daughter and son-in-law, Anna and Robert G. LaFontaine; her son, Mihály; one niece (California); two great-grand nephews (Hungary) and Pál and Marianne Toldalagi (Connecticut).

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter's Church, Cornelia Street on Thursday, May 11, 2006, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Sarasota-Keys Rotary Foundation for the Arauco Children's Fund, PO Box 365, Sarasota, FL 34230-0365.

Arrangements are by the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Marguerite G. Peterson

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Marguerite G. Peterson, 91, formerly of Plattsburgh, died on Sunday, May 7, 2006, in Albuquerque, N.M.

Mrs. Peterson was an active member in the First Presbyterian Church having served as deacon and held several offices in the Presbyterian Women. She was a charter member of the Faculty Wives' Book Club and was also a member of the Interdenominational Prayer Group.

Survivors include her husband, Raymond P. Peterson; a daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and George Hekman of Albuquerque, N.M.; and a grandson, Keith and Rana Hekman, (Naomi and Sophia) of Grand Rapids Mich.

Her granddaughter, Kara Hekman, predeceased her.

Funeral services will be held at the Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home in Kentwood, Mich., Grand Rapids, with interment in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund.

Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com.

Deaths:

EVELYN V. FINNEY, 80, of Treadwells Bay, Plattsburgh and Vero Beach, Fla., died Tuesday, May 9, 2006, in Vero Beach, Fla.

She was born in Ballston Spa, Nov. 20, 1925, the daughter of William and Mary VanBuren.

Visitation and funeral service information was incomplete Tuesday evening and will be announced by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru.

HENRY HOWARD TROTTER, 55, of Beechwood Road, Saranac Lake, died Monday, May 8, 2006, at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.

Born in the Bronx, N.Y., on Oct. 15, 1950, he was the son of David and Lee (Weiner) Trotter.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake on Thursday, May 11, 2006, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be held Friday at with Rabbi Alec Friedman officiating. Burial will follow at Harrietstown Cemetery in Saranac Lake.

NICHOLAS ADAM MERRILL LAPORTE, 14, of Chazy, died Monday, May 8, 2006, at the CVPH Medical Center.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Clark Funeral Home in Champlain. A funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Friday at St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh. A full obituary will appear in Thursday's Press-Republican.

EVELYN M. BOIRE, 83, of Route 9, Chazy, died Tuesday, May 9, 2006, at Evergreen Nursing Home in Plattsburgh.

She was born on Aug. 27, 1922, in Champlain, the daughter of Sidney and Flora (Dubour) Rider.

Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Church in Chazy. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

A complete obituary will follow in Thursday's Press-Republican.

Arrangements are by the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.