Alice Wareham

Alice Ridenour Wareham of Saranac Lake, died Monday June 11, 2018 at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

She was born Sept. 2, 1922 in Saranac Lake the daughter of John Schell Ridenour and Clara (Wilcox) Ridenour.

She from attended the Baldwin elementary school, was graduated from the Saranac Lake high school in 1939 and Smith College in 1944.

After graduating from Smith College she returned to Saranac Lake. With World War II in progress, she had worked summers in the newsroom on her father's newspaper, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, since she was 17. As the draft decimated available compositors she was placed in the composing room and ultimately became a journeyman Lino typist. Gradually she was moved to the circulation, front office, classified advertising and display advertising departments until she ~ad a sound working knowledge of each. When Mr. Ridenour sold the Enterprise in 1949 she had become co-publisher.

She was married to Arthur W. Wareham Feb. 9, 1952 at St. Luke’s Church in Saranac Lake. The couple had one daughter, Ann Wilcox Wareham (Mrs. Jonathan P. Driller) of Ridgewood, NJ who, with her husband, survives.

Mrs. Wareham was a lifelong communicant of St. Luke’s Church, a member of St. Luke's Ladies' Guild, and had been active in many civic organizations. She had served as secretary of the Saranac Lake Free Library board, was an active member of the Village Improvement Society, served on the Saranac Lake Voluntary Health Association board and had been on the organizational board of the Lake Placid Sinfonietta, Inc., serving six years and continuing on its Advisory Board.

An avid gardener and knitter, Mrs. Wareham enjoyed travelling and expanded other horizons through annual attendance at the Smith Alumnae College.

Mrs. Wareham was predeceased by her husband March 10, 2005. She was also predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law Eleanor (Mrs. Andrew Cheselka) of South Setauket, L.I..

In addition to her daughter and son-in-law survivors include two nephews, Andrew Cheselka, Jr., of Spring, TX, and John R. Cheselka of Setauket, L.I.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. There will be no calling hours. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM on Tuesday June 19, 2018 in St. Luke's Church with reception in the Parish House. Burial will be in the family plot at St. John's in the Wilderness, Paul Smiths, NY.

Those wishing to remember her are asked to donate to the Village Improvement Society, Voluntary Health Association, Saranac Lake Free Library, Tri-Lake s Humane Society or Memorial Endowment Fund of the Church of St. Luke, the Beloved Physician.