Joan Neese

Joan Elizabeth Neese, age 80, of 71 Margaret Street, Saranac Lake, died Saturday, April 06, 2013 at the home of her sister Diana Smith Shumway in Branford, CT

Born in Saranac Lake, New York on October 04, 1932, she was the daughter of Oliver and Mary (Fletcher) Smith.

She married Alan Neese on June 21, 1951 in Saranac Lake and they celebrated their sixty -first wedding anniversary in 2012. Alan predeceased her on August 28, 2012.

Mrs. Neese was born and raised in Saranac Lake. She lived briefly in Rochester, NY and then returned to Saranac Lake. Mrs. Neese worked for JJ Newberry & Co and the Ames Department Store. In the mid seventies she went to work at the General Hospital of Saranac Lake where she retired after seventeen years. She was an active member of the Catholic Daughters of America Court St. Bernard until October 2012. She loved ceramics and reading mystery novels, especially Agatha Christie.

Mrs. Neese is survived by her children Robert Neese of Maine, Carla Palmirotto of Asheville, North Carolina, Dion Neese of Saranac Lake and Micah Neese of Palm Bay, Florida; thirteen grandchildren: Jennifer Butler, Kristen Gill, Rebekah Butler, Courtney Cucinotta, Lindsay Dunn, Adriane Stickney, Nicholas Palmirotto, Allison DeFranco Neese, Carey Neese, Kelly Neese, Lucy Neese, Nina Champion and Nathaniel Vieira, twelve great grandchildren and one on the way. She is also survived by two brothers John Smith of New Hartford, CT and Joseph Smith of Gaston, SC, three sisters Beverly Smith Groth of Rochester, Donna Smith Hart of Utica, NY and Diana Smith Shumway of Branford, CT and many nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by one brother Oliver, and three sisters Patricia Howe, Dorothy Naegele, and Shirley LaMas.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. A Catholic Daughters service will take place Wednesday at 4:30 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday April 11, 2013 at St. Bernard's Church, with Rev. Bill Muench officiating. Burial will take place at St. Paul's Cemetery in Bloomingdale.

Friends wishing to remember Joan Elizabeth Neese may make memorial contributions to Catholic Daughters of America Court St. Bernard in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.