Jeanne Marie Johndrow Reff, 89, 31380 Burnt Rock Road, Cape Vincent, passed away suddenly Monday, July 24, 2017, at Samaritan Medical Center surrounded by her family.
She was born November 30, 1927 in Carthage NY, daughter of the late Clarence and Edna Clarke Johndrow. She married Joseph M. Reff on January 6, 1951 at St. James Catholic Church in Carthage, NY with Fr. Dacey officiating. Together they ran the family farm for 25 years. Mrs. Reff worked for New York Telephone Company in Carthage, NY for over 5 years prior to her marriage. She was a waitress at Sunny Banks Restaurant in Cape Vincent, NY for 10 years and retired as a Telephone Operator for the United States Army Information Systems Command at Fort Drum after 20 years.
She was a communicant of St. Vincent de Paul Church, Rosiere and a member of its Altar and Rosary Society. Jeanne was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 832 and worked for 11 years as a volunteer in the gift shop at the Samaritan Medical Center. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family, and she also enjoyed her Tuesday Lunch Bunch with her husband, travelling, and sewing.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Joseph M. Reff; 6 children, Donald Potter, Hilton, NY, Mike (Rose) Reff, Jolene (Jarvis) Radley, all of Cape Vincent, NY, John (Randy Breunig) Reff, Boulder, CO, Bill (Linda) Reff, Peru, IL, and Sue-Ellen (Eric) Thompson, Rush, NY; 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother, J. Paul Johndrow, Tewksbury, MA, and sister-in-law, Nora Hyde of Pahrump, NV and Three Mile Bay, NY, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was pre-deceased by her sister, Sarah Jane Johndrow, and brother, Thomas James Johndrow, in infancy; daughters-in-law, Marie Potter and Barbara Potter; grandchildren, Donald Potter Jr, Jeremy Radley and Emily Reff, in infancy; brothers, Clarence and Gwendolyn Johndrow Jr, Clarke and Pauline Johndrow; sisters-in-law, Pauline Johndrow, Helen and Leo King; and brother-in-law, Milford Hyde.
A calling hour will be held August 5th at 10am at St. Vincent de Paul’s Church, Rosiere, with a funeral mass to follow at 11am. Burial will be in St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery. There will be a reception to follow at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Rosiere. Arrangements are entrusted with Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Clayton.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in her name, to the Cape Vincent Ambulance Squad, PO Box 609, Cape Vincent, NY 13618. Online condolences to her family may be made at www.cummingsfuneral.com.