Cecile Mckenty

Sadly, be it known that Cecile Theresa McKenty (Charland) has passed from this earth. She had been residing at Mercy Living Center in Tupper Lake since July 2014 and was under High Peaks Hospice care for the past 9 months.

Cecile was the 2nd daughter and last surviving child of Beatrice Monakey and Louis Charland of Tupper Lake. She was the grand daughter to Peter Charland and Adeline Lajaunosse Young, Dr Peter Monakey and Oldegonde Jodin. Sister to Jacqueline M. (Tom Healy), Aldegonde (Al vom scheidt), and Peter J. (Lillian Lamere). Mother to John R. Fariss (Kamden) of Brant Lake NY, M. Jill McKenty of Saranac Lake, NY, and P. Kellie Buckowski (Micheal) of Salem, NY. Grand mother to Shawn R. Fariss (Natasha Mitchell) of Albany, NY, Chris J. Fariss (Lisa Knowlton) of Schroon Lake, NY, Karen A. and Matt Manell of Glens Falls, NY and Matt S. Fariss of Queensbury, NY, Kimberley L. Fariss of Brant Lake, NY and Sarah E. Buckowski and Colin M. Buckowski of Salem, NY. Mother in law to Catherine Fariss of Schroon Lake, NY. Aunt to Patricia (Cookie Healy) Whitson of Albany, NY, Kevin Healy (Bill) of Vancouver, WA, Jackie (Bill Fenn) of Penns, Kurt vom Scheidt (Allison) of Singapore, Dr. James Charland (Shy) of Amsterdam, NY, Pat Charland (Hazel) of Pougkeepise, NY, Tim and Barbara of Slate Hill, NY, Matt (Jeannine) Charland of Pleasant Valley, NY, Chris Charland(Carolyn) of Pougkeepise, NY and Sue Charland (Tom Gault) of Pougkeepise, NY. Great grand mother to Ethan J. Fariss and Cecilia L. Manell. Proceeded in death by Patrick JH McKenty and Robert Fariss

Cecile grew up in her early years in Tupper lake and attended Holy Ghost Academy and Saranac Lake Central school. She and her sister Gondie attend Putman Catholic Academy in Putman, Conn and she later graduated from that academy with the guidance of their Aunt Sister Agnes Cecile Monakey. She and her sister Jacqueline moved to Saranac Lake to help as "tray girls" for their Aunt Loretta Monakey (Laura McCabe) at the McCabe Cure Cottage on Franklin Ave while attending school there.

She also attended Albany Business College After leaving ABC she worked for American Telephone and Telegraph Company in NYC. She moved back to Tupper Lake where she meet and married Army Air Force pilot Robert Fariss from McMinnville, Tenn. After moving to Altanta, Ga., Cecile worked at the Coca-Cola company then moved back to Tupper Lake where their son John was born. While working at the Golden Arrow in Lake Placid she meet Patrick J H McKenty and later married. They moved to Ray Brook where they managed the Sherwood Forrest for a brief time, eventually moving to Bloomingdale, NY to raise their blended family. Cecile worked at the Brookside Restaurant, Currier Press, Ampersand Bay Boat Club.

Health issues plaqued her the years that followed and due to the extent of them, she was under the loving care of her daughter Kellie and her family after her return from a brief stay with her sister Jacqueline and Tom in Yuma, Az. Cecile stayed in the Saratoga Springs area after extensive rehabilation and attended adult learning classes. She worked and retired from Transition Services in Saratoga after 15 years. In 2010, Cecile moved to Saranac Village at Will Rodgers where she was a resident for three years. She then moved to Champlain Valley Senior Living in Willsboro, NY for 6 months. Health issues again forced her back to her hometown to be closer to family and where she became a resident of Mercy Living Center July 2014.

Cecile's family would like to acknowledge the generosity, compassion, and kindness of the staff at numerous health care agencies, friends and family that helped her reach 91 years young! Adirondack Health, Saranac Village at Will Rodgers, Champlain Valley Senior Living Center, Mercy Cares, Saranac Lake Voluntary Health, Saranac Lake,Tupper lake Saratoga Springs Rescue Squads, Essex, Franklin, Saratoga, Washington Counties Office's for the aging, Jeff Erenstone, Tim Lahey, Albany Medical Center, Saratoga Hospital, CVPH Medical Center, Burke Rehabilitation Center. Robert and Ronnie Isreal. Marianne and Micheal Buckowski and the staff of High Peaks Hospice including volunteers Dan Santerra and Claire Santerra. A HUGH HEART FELT special thanks to the administration, accounting, nurtrtional, enviromental, maintance, activites, social services, rehabilition, pastrol care departments and volunteers at Mercy Living Center.

Cecile loved living in the adirondacks! She was an outdoors woman in her younger years. She enjoyed cooking, baking, knitting, puzzles, anything loon related and a good heated picnochle game with her siblings and oh how she loved to dance and swim! She truly treasured family gatherings and occasions.

Cecile had an extremely strong will, as those who knew her could atest to and a great sense of humor which helped her over come many personal and health related obstacles over her lifetime. The light, fire and smile that was truly Cecile will be surely missed by all that knew and loved her. No doubt, she's already been dancing, swimming and having a beer while playing a mean game of pinochle with her siblings!

A celebration of life to be held Sunday July 9, 2017 at Fortune Keough Funeral Home Saranac Lake 11am- 1pm and Monday July 10th 2017 at Mercy Living Center Tupper Lake at 2:15-3:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to High Peak Hospice or Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation.