Antwerp – Raymond Morse “Ray” Villeneuve, 81, passed away on Thursday, June 22, 2017.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, June 29th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm followed by a funeral service at 1:00 pm at the Green Funeral Home, Gouverneur with Fr. Christopher Looby officiating and burial in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Antwerp.

Raymond was born in Faust, NY, near Tupper Lake, on July 6, 1935. He is the 5th and youngest child of Napoleon “Paul” and Ida Carter Villeneuve.

Ray married Carol Elaine Dusharm on July 21, 1956 at St. James Church, Gouverneur, with Fr. James Lyng and Fr. Mehan officiating.

He was employed at Agway and St. Joe Lead Company before purchasing the family farm from Paul and Ida in 1967. He operated the dairy farm which was awarded the “Dairy of Distinction” award until retiring in 1998. The couple continued to reside on the farm, “Cedar Hill Farms”, while Ray continued to crop farm until his passing.

Ray enjoyed hunting, reading, traveling, carpentry, home improvements, mechanic work, and restoring and showing Oliver 60 Row Crop tractors.

He was a life member of the Gouverneur Elks Lodge and the Knights of Columbus.

Ray is survived by his wife of 60 years Carol, his children Roxanna and Joseph Backer of Castile, NY, Ray Villeneuve of Holland Patent, Randy and Joan Villeneuve of Amherst, VA, 10 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Dorothy Putman of Florida, Geraldine Coffin of Antwerp, several nieces and nephews, including his closest nephew, Jim Booking and his wife Lori Booking. Ray is predeceased by his parents, 2 brothers Leon and Stanley, his sisters-in law Doris Villeneuve and Doris Trask Villeneuve.

Memorial donations in Ray’s memory may be made to Gouverneur Hospital, 77 W. Barney Street, Gouverneur, NY 13642, or Evans Mills Vol. Ambulance Squad, PO Box 113, Evans Mills, NY 13637.

The memorial service for Reta E. Armstrong will be 1:00 on Wednesday, June 28th at the Reed & Benoit Funeral Home. A calling hour will precede the service from 12-1 at the funeral home.

Reta passed away Saturday, June 24th at the Samaritan Keep Home. She was 91 years old.

Born in Streetsville, Ontario April 11, 1926 Reta was a daughter to LaVerne and Mabel Hunter Whaley. Reta was a homecare provider in the Watertown area for several years.

Reta enjoyed bowling, listening to music, watching TV and her time spent at the pool doing water aerobics.

Surviving are her children, Bonnie Taylor (Richard) Rainone, NJ; Deborah Taylor (Martin) Swanson, Liverpool; Sandra L. Armstrong-Hill and her fiancé Mark Bintliff, Watertown; 7 grandchildren, Rebecca and Meghan Rainone, Joshua and Julie Swanson, Seth, Alyssa and Nathan Hill, 1 great-grandson, Damon Swanson and several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents she is predeceased by her brother, Carmen Whaley.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Jefferson County Office of the Aging, 175 Arsenal St., Watertown, NY 13601 or to Association for the Blind, 131 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601.

Arrangements are with Reed & Benoit Funeral Home, Watertown.

Nelson David Grau, 81, of Townshed, MN, formerly of Carthage, NY, died Thursday (June 22, 2017) at Warm Spring Hospital in Montana. Nelson was born November 3, 1935 in Croghan, NY, to the late Lloyd L. and Matie May Arnold Grau. Predeceased by his only sibling, Beverly Hickox.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years Evelyn Lou Hunneyman Grau; one daughter Hope Hendrickson and husband Christopher from Krakow, Wisconsin; three sons, David Grau and his fiancé Lisa Myers from Greg, NY, Silas Hutchins and his wife Heather of Kingsport, TN,

Allan James Grau and his wife Stacey of West Pawlet, VT; fifteen grandchildren; two great grandchildren; one niece Holly Mosher.

Graduated at Adams High School in 1954. He worked 37 ½ years in the paper mill-Champion International. Nelson loved his family and friends, he was a great dad. His big passion was outdoors, fishing and hunting with his kids and grandchildren. He’s known for his big boisterous laugh and devilish ways of being a prankster.

In keeping with his wishes, the body will be cremated and no services are planned.

Brian L. Parker, 45, formerly of Watertown passed away at his uncle and aunt’s, Christopher and Laurie Brown, home in Rodman. He died surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer.

Calling hours will be held at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Watertown on Friday, June 30, from 3 - 6PM. The funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, July 1, at St. Anthony’s Church at 10AM with Msgr. Robert Aucoin, pastor, presiding.

Brian was born in Watertown on August 30, 1971, son of Linda M. Schweinsberg. He attended St. Anthony’s School and graduated from Immaculate Heart Central School in 1990. He received his bachelor’s degree from Alfred State. While at Alfred, he enjoyed playing rugby and worked for a nursery and landscaping company. Until his illness he was a mail processing clerk for the US Postal Service, based in Syracuse. He enjoyed hunting, music, landscaping, and socializing with his many friends. Brian’s most favorite pastime was fishing, always outfishing his family and friends.

He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Linda and Michael Traynor, Watertown; maternal grandparents, Charles and Gloria Schweinsberg, Watertown; three brothers, Michael Traynor, Syracuse, Scott Traynor and wife, Christina, Ogdensburg, and Jason Traynor, Watertown; niece, Sophia and two nephews, Shawn and Jordan; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Brian loved Ausable and in lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations in his name to the Ausable River Association, P. O. Box 8, Wilmington, NY 12997. Online condolences to his family may be made at www.cummingsfuneral.com.

Alexander J Pircsuk, 89, died peacefully in his sleep on Father’s Day at Summit Village in Watertown. He battled Parkinson’s Disease for many years.

Alex was born April 13, 1928 in Elyria, Ohio, son of John and Mary Almasy Pircsuk. He graduated Salutatorian from Norfolk High School in 1946 with perfect attendance.

As a proud Hungarian and a child of the depression, his work ethic was inspiring. Alex helped with family expenses, giving his mother part of his earnings every week. As a youngster, he mowed lawns at church and delivered newspapers. At the age of 12, he was bagging and delivering groceries for The Grand Union after school. He could be found making malted milkshakes at Tiernan’s ice-cream parlor if he wasn’t working at the grocery store. He was part of a summer crew that worked on the Norfolk dams on the Raquette River. In the mid-40’s Alex worked nights and weekends as the motion picture projector operator at the Empress Theater.

After graduation he worked as the Assistant Paymaster and Cost Accountant at St. Regis Paper Company in Norfolk until he joined the United States Army in 1950. He was stationed in Germany where he received the Army of Occupation Medal.

He married Eva Mae Steinburg on December 6, 1952. They had three children. After her death, he married Dawn A. Grant on December 4, 1965.

Alex had a 31 year career at ALCOA in Massena, rising to the position of Payroll Supervisor. He helped move the payroll process from manual records to IBM computers. In the 1970s Alex and his son ran a privately owned wholesale warehouse as a distributor and installer of ALCOA business products. He built and supervised the operation of AJ’s Sub Shop in an apartment building he owned and renovated in downtown Norfolk. Years later he leased the building to the U.S. Post Office.

Alex retired from ALCOA in 1980 and settled in Florida for 30 years, spending summers in the North Country. While retired, he held many part-time jobs. He sold real estate, worked as a butcher, delivered mail, worked at a storage facility and was employed by a funeral home.

He returned to Northern New York in 2010, residing in Syracuse before moving to Ives Hill Retirement Community and Summit Village in Watertown.

Alex was a communicant of The Church of the Visitation in Norfolk serving the church as an altar boy and later as President of the Holy Name Society. He was known for his Hungarian cabbage roll dinners. In Florida he was a member of the Elks and the American Legion. He enjoyed carpentry, cooking and hosting gatherings of family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Dawn Grant Pircsuk, and two daughters, Cathy Pircsuk and James Burr of Watertown and Mary Clary of Hannawa Falls; three sisters, Julia and Pat McArdle of Los Gatos, CA, Mary and Jack Maroney of Potsdam and Joanie and Chris Hastings of Morley.

A son, John (2014), and a sister, Irene (Edie) Laramay, died before him. He is also survived by grandchildren Bernard J Clary, King of Prussia, PA, Jeremy Burr of Indianapolis and Laurel Burr of Miami.

There will be a graveside service at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are with DL Calarco Funeral Home Inc. Condolences may be made to www.dlcalarco.com.

Contributions in Alex’s memory may be made to his son’s scholarship, which is awarded annually to a Norwood-Norfolk senior.

Contributions may be sent to the John G. Pircsuk Scholarship Fund in care of the Northern New York Community Foundation, 131 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601.

E. Fern Brown, Watertown, passed away Sunday, June 25th at the Samaritan Medical Center. She was 97 years old. Arrangements are incomplete with Carpenter-Stoodley Funeral Home, Belleville.

John Jacob (Jack) Leffert, 88, died peacefully at his home, on June 24, 2017 , in the company of his wife and seven children.

John was born on April 2, 1929 in Rome, NY to Charles Milo and Ruth Catherine (Cummings) Leffert. He is survived by one sister, Shirley (Leffert) Murphy, and predeceased by one brother, Charles Milo Leffert II of Rome, NY. After attending high school at R.F.A. In Rome, NY, John went to work in 1946 as a lineman for the NY Telephone Company. He retired in 1982 from NY Telephone Company as a Service Bureau Foreman.

While working on a job in Star Lake, NY as a lineman for NY Telephone Co., John met his wife, Elinor Joan Kerr. They were married on January 7, 1950. They lived in Rome, NY for 38 years, where they raised seven children, before moving to Star Lake, NY in 1987. John is survived by the love of his life, Elinor Joan, his five daughters: Roberta J. and Daniel M. Szewczyk of Star Lake, NY; Christine A. and Dennis M. Murray of Gloucester, VA; Jacquelynn D. House and partner Steven K. Flanders of Bridgeport, NY; Thea L. and David C. Joseph of Rome, NY; Mary M. and John P. Fanelli of Utica, NY, and two sons: John D. and Cynthia J. (Kurz) Leffert of Rome, NY; Kyle R. and Vanessa A. (Luttrell) Leffert of New Hudson, MI. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 1 predeceased granddaughter.

Before retiring, John was active in the Rome Lions Club and the Rome Planning Board. Upon moving to Star Lake, John became active with St. Hubert’s Church as a 3rd Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus, and was a past president of the Star Lake Protective Association. He enjoyed the outdoors hunting, fishing, and camping with his family. Focus on family and friends was his greatest interest in life. He was always supportive and encouraging to all around him. His outgoing personality and humor always put a smile on all fortunate enough to know him. His favorite line was, “Keep Smiling!”

Calling hours will be from 4 pm to 6 pm on Tuesday, June 27, 2017, at Hawley Funeral Home, in Star Lake, NY. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, June 28, 2017, at St. Hubert’s Church, in Star Lake, NY. A graveside service will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Rome, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Hubert’s Church and the Star Lake Rescue Squad.

MASSENA – Mr. Daryl L. Monroe, 54, of 171 Carey Road, tragically passed away Saturday afternoon, June 24, 2017 at Massena Memorial Hospital from the injuries he sustained following a motorcycle accident.

Daryl was born October 24, 1962 in Potsdam the son of the late Beverly Ann (Colton) Monroe and Wayne E. Monroe and attended Potsdam High School. On October 29, 2005, he married Pamela A. Miller at the Massena Town Hall.

Daryl was a service technician for Monroe Muffler in Potsdam. He also worked for a time in the maintenance department from Massena Central School and with various construction companies. He was a past member of the Norfolk Fire Department, serving with them for over 15 years. Daryl was an avid CB Radio operator, followed NASCAR, and enjoyed going to the stock car races at Mohawk International Speedway with his son, Blayne. He took great pride in maintaining his lawn and cherished the time he spent with his grandbabies and was anxiously awaiting the birth of two more.

Daryl is survived by his wife, Pam; his children, Blayne Monroe and his fiancé, Schiler Ashley of Madrid; Keith Patrick and his wife, Shena; Andrea Messier and her companion, Joe Konkowski; Brandon Patrick and his wife, Jen, Alex Prashaw and his wife, Kat; and Taylor Prashaw and her companion, Mace Closs, all of Massena; his precious grandchildren, Zackary, Michael, Jado, Aliyah Bear, Cayden, Ben, Kalleigh, and Baby Patrick, and his father, Wayne of Norfolk. He is also survived by his brothers and their wives, Carl and Naomi Monroe and Greg and Mary Monroe, all of Norfolk; his sister, Sherry Monroe and her companion, Mike Maguire of Massena; his sister-in-law, Tracy and Jerry Morin of Massena; his aunts and uncles, Reggie and Valerie Monroe, Sonny and Cheryl Colton, James and Betty Whitmarsh, and Linda and Frederick Markell; and many nieces and nephews including, Jason Monroe, Lacey Thompson and her son, Owen.

In addition to his mother, Daryl was predeceased by two brothers, Timothy and Scott Monroe.

Friends may call Wednesday 4-6:00 PM at the Donaldson Funeral Home, Massena, where the members of the Norfolk Fire Department will conduct a fireman’s memorial ritual at 6:00 PM. A celebration of his life will follow at the AMVETS Post #4, Andrews Street.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Norfolk Fire Department or the Madrid Rescue Squad.

Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.donaldsonfh.com.

FAUCHER- A memorial service for Marilyn S. Faucher, age 81 of Brier Hill will be held at 10:30am on Saturday July 1, 2017 at the Fox & Murray Funeral Home with Rev. Jay Seymour officiating. Calling hours will be held also on Saturday from 9:00am until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Ingham Cemetery in Brier Hill. Mrs. Faucher died Feb 11, 2017.

GREAT BEND – Edith June Leddy, 89, died unexpectedly Sunday morning at her home. Arrangements are incomplete and are with Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home, Carthage.

Charles F. Zeltwanger Jr., 47 of Sackets Harbor, passed away June 24th following a heart attack. Arrangements with Johnson Funeral Home are incomplete. Obituary to follow.

Doris P. Swallia, 92, formerly of Depauville, Cape Vincent, and Dexter, passed away Thursday morning, June 22, 2017, at Samaritan Summit Village, Watertown where she had resided since October 2013.

Calling hours will be held at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Clayton on Tuesday, June 27, from 4 - 7PM. The funeral service will be at the funeral home on Wednesday, June 28, at 10AM with Pastor Thomas Augliano, River Community Church, presiding and burial will follow in Depauville Cemetery.

Mrs. Swallia was born June 27, 1924 in Watertown, daughter of Joseph and Jessie (Schafer) Mexdorf and she was raised in Depauville. She was a 1941 graduate of Clayton High School and attended nursing school in NYC until illness brought her back home. On June 27, 1945 she married Clarence C. “Clancy” Swallia. They resided on Swallia Rd., Cape Vincent most of their married life, where Mr. Swallia owned and operated Swallia Electric. After their retirement, they moved to Dexter where they lived until Mr. Swallia passed on May 13, 2001. She moved to Watertown after his passing.

Doris had worked at Bomax until 1968. She then worked and retired in 1987 from Thousand Islands Central School cafeteria while she was a bookkeeper for her husband’s business. She was a member of the Three Mile Bay Baptist Church choir, singing at many weddings. For most of her life, she enjoyed knitting, game shows, listening to Joel Osteen, watching SU Basketball, and spending time with family and friends. She never turned down the opportunity to play any game of cards no matter what time of day. She was a great cook and would feed any number of unexpected guests at a moment’s notice. As a grandmother she attended the majority of her grandchildren’s activities in and out of school.

Doris is survived by her two daughters, Marilyn D. Pryor, Samaritan Summit Village, Watertown and Linda L. Paventi and husband, Paul R., Cape Vincent; two grandchildren, Tracie Mason and husband, Joseph, Cape Vincent and Patricia Lyndaker and husband, Nate, Cape Vincent and Lowville; granddaughter-in-law, Heather Beerman, Clayton; two great grandchildren, Logan Beerman and Carter Rienbeck; two step grandchildren, Jared Paventi and wife, Melissa, Syracuse and Marlo Paventi and fiancée, Brian Dilts, Long Island; two step great granddaughters, Layla and Ella Rose Paventi; twin sisters, Evangeline Hayes and Irene Haller, both formerly of Clayton and both residing at Samaritan Summit Village, Watertown; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Along with her parents and husband, Doris was predeceased by son-in-law, William Pryor, grandson, Ed Beerman, Jr., and brother-in-law, Ralph Haller.

“May the angels take you to meet your loved ones who wait for you to be with them again”. Donations in her name may be made to Ed Beerman, Jr. Scholarship Fund, Watertown Savings Bank, attention Linda Paventi, 12221 NYS Rt. 12E, Chaumont, NY 13622. Online condolences to Doris’ family may be made at www.cummingsfuneral.com.

SYRACUSE/GOUVERNEUR – Irvon Dean Thomas, age 75, passed away at home in Syracuse.

His burial will be private in the Riverside Cemetery in Gouverneur. Arrangements are with French Funeral Home in Gouverneur. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com.

Irvon was born on May 31, 1942 in Gouverneur to the late Glendon and Gladys (Blair) Thomas. He went to the Gouverneur Central School through sixth grade and graduated from the Rome School for the Deaf in 1961. Irvon has lived most of his life in Syracuse.

His survivors include his sisters, Sandra and Gary Weaver of Greencastle, PA and Amber and Wellington Swem of Gouverneur. He also has 2 aunts, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

MASSENA – Mary Cecille McElwain, 89, formerly of Massena, peacefully passed away Friday, June 14, 2017 at her home under the care of Harmony Hospice in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Cecille was born November 14, 1927 in Massena, daughter of the late John O. and Agnes Galipeau Noreault. She attended Fort Covington Schools graduating in June 1947, and on June 1, 1948 she married Wayne C. McElwain at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Ft. Covington, with Rev. Robert Dufort officiating. Wayne predeceased by her on January 8, 2013.

She first worked in Syracuse in an office for a plumbing supply company, before working at Warner Bros. Corset Factory in Massena. She and her husband owned and operated McElwain Decorating Center in Fort Covington for 33 years. She was also the Registrar of Vital Statistics in Fort Covington for 30 years.

Cecille was very active with several square dance groups with which they traveled, most recently active with the Swinging B’s Square Dance Club in Cornwall, ON. She always enjoyed sewing, quilting, and painting. Mary devoted much of her time at the Senior Citizens in the Fort, making quilts and curtains for the Reading Center.

Cecille is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, David Wayne and Janet McElwain of Las Vegas, NV; two sisters, Eveline Normandeau of Rehoboth Beach, DE; and Madeline Noreault of Liverpool, NY; and three nieces and three nephews.

Besides her parents and her husband, Cecille was predeceased by a brother, James J. Noreault on April 4, 1971.

Friends may call at the Donaldson Funeral Home Thursday, June 29, 2017 from 4-7 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, at 10:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Bombay.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Cecille to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association.

Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.donaldsonfh.com

VILLENEUVE - Antwerp – Raymond Morse “Ray” Villeneuve, 81, passed away on Thursday, June 22, 2017. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, June 29th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm followed by a funeral service at 1:00 pm at the Green Funeral Home, Gouverneur with Fr. Christopher Looby officiating and burial in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Antwerp. Memorial donations may be made to Gouverneur Hospital, 77 W. Barney Street, Gouverneur, NY 13642 or Indian River Ambulance Service, 6 Sands Street, Philadelphia, NY 13673.

Gordon Everett Panchou, 70, of Palm Bay, passed away on May 11, 2017. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to help with funeral expenses to his wife, Wanda Panchou. She can be contacted at 321-914-6882. Buggs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The funeral service for E. Fern Brown will be 10:00am Wednesday, June 28th at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Adams. Burial in Lakeview Cemetery, Skaneateles will follow the service at 1:00pm.

Fern passed away Sunday, June 25th at Samaritan Medical Center. She was 97 years old.

Born in Syracuse March 18, 1920, she was a daughter of Charles N. and Clara L. (Clark) Mather. She was educated in Syracuse, and graduated from Central High School in 1939. Fern worked as a bookkeeper at Carrier Corporation in Syracuse until her retirement in 1982 following 29 years of service.

She married Charles Brown May 9, 1970. Over the years Charles and Fern were very generous, donating to several charities throughout Jefferson county. Mr. Brown passed away December 5, 2010.

Fern was a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Adams. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, classic movies, Syracuse Basketball, Golf, and bible study.

She is survived by a niece, Sharon Benz, of Buffalo; 2 nephews, Charles Kucharski of Brewerton, John (Leah) Kucharski of California; 3 great-nephews, Matthew Pugh of Buffalo, Bradley Benz of Buffalo, Norm (Jane) Otis of Three Mile Bay; and a cousin, Maureen Graham, of Black River.

Besides her husband, Charles, she is predeceased by a nephew, Stephen Kucharski; 2 sisters, Anis Davis & Esther Kucharski; and a cousin, Bernard Graham.

Donations may be made in her name to Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 39 E. Church Street, Adams, New York 13605.

Online condolences may be made at www.carpenterstoodley.com.

Arrangements are with Carpenter-Stoodley Funeral Home, Belleville.

HOBBS - Watertown, NY - Shirley L. Hobbs, 77, passed away on Sunday, June 11th, 2017. In Crown Park nursing facility, Cortland, NY. Graveside services will be held Saturday,July 8th, 2017 at 2PM, East Rodman cemetery, Whitesville, NY. Family and friends are welcome.

HOBBS - Watertown, NY - Shirley L. Hobbs, 77, passed away on Sunday, June 11th, 2017. In Crown Park nursing facility, Cortland, NY. Graveside services will be held Saturday,July 8th, 2017 at 2PM, East Rodman cemetery, Whitesville, NY. Family and friends are welcome.

HOBBS - Watertown, NY - Shirley L. Hobbs, 77, passed away on Sunday, June 11th, 2017. In Crown Park nursing facility, Cortland, NY. Graveside services will be held Saturday,July 8th, 2017 at 2PM, East Rodman cemetery, Whitesville, NY. Family and friends are welcome.