Hart & Bruce Funeral Home

01/13/2025

10/24/2022

👇Make sure to follow us on Instagram.👇
https://www.instagram.com/inspiringandpositivethinking

04/10/2022

Gerald P. Frank, 86, of Calcium, NY, passed away peacefully April 9, 2022 at his home where he was under the care of Hospice of Jefferson County and surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on November 14, 1935, in Watertown, NY, son of Stuart L. and Dorothy I. (Compo) Frank, and he graduated from WHS in January of 1954.
Gerald entered the US Navy on February 8, 1954 and was honorably discharged on February 7, 1956. He continued his military service with the Navy Reserves until 1961. He then joined the Army Reserves in 1978 and his first duty was with the 440 Medical Clearing Co. in Watertown and his second duty station was with the US Army Center in Malone, NY. During his years in the service he served as an x-ray specialist in various departments, until he retired as a Sergeant on November 14, 1995.
Gerald received his certificate in Radiologic Technology in 1958 from the Guild X-ray Training School now known as North Country Community College in Saranac Lake. Jerry worked for Dr. Walker Heap and subsequent partners of North Country Orthopedic Group from 1960 until his retirement in 1995. After his retirement he took great pride working as a bagger at the Fort Drum Commissary for 15 years until his health no longer allowed him to work.
He married Lucille H. Hurlbert on September 20, 1958 at Our Lady of The Sacred Heart Church. The couple have resided in Calcium since 1961.
In 1966, Gerald was one of the founding members of the Calcium Youth Club, he was an avid hunter and member of the Red Bandana Hunting Club with family and friends in Odessa, NY, he served two years as a councilman for the Town of LeRay, he enjoyed bowling and he and his wife loved going to Atlantic City. He was a communicant of St. Paul’s Catholic Church and member of the Black River American Legion for over 50 years. Gerald also received Black River Citizen of the Year award in 2012. Most of all he loved spending time with his family.
Among his survivors are his beloved wife, Lucille H. Frank, Calcium; three children, Timothy P. (Connie) Frank, Odessa, NY, Linda L. (Richard) Frank Turner, Evans Mills, NY, Stephen D. (Lisa) Frank, Tully, NY; 7 grandchildren, Ian (Linzy) Frank, Lindsay (Robert) Pawlewicz, Alexander (Courtney) Turner, Nicholas Cusato, Connor Frank, Matthew Frank and Mary Frank; 4 great grandchildren, Mila, Isabella, Theodore and Remi; a sister, Constance I. Jakubowski, Brownville; nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents he is predeceased by two grandchildren, Samantha Turner, Elise Frank, a brother, Daniel Frank, his mother in law, Virginia Grizawich and a brother in law, Carl Jakubowski.
Calling hours will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 12th at the Hart & Bruce Funeral Home 117 N. Massey St., Watertown.
A Funeral Mass will be said 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 13th at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Black River.
Burial with full military honors will follow in Sanford Corners Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice of Jefferson County 1398 Gotham St., Watertown, NY 13601.
Online condolence may be left at www.hartandbrucefh.com

10/09/2021

08/05/2021

Sandra L. “Sandy” Lamb, 79, of 128 E. Re*****on St., Black River, passed away peacefully August 2, 2021 at the family camp on Brantingham Lake surrounded by family, friends and beloved furbabies Morris and Mittens.

She was born on May 28, 1942 in Watertown, NY, daughter of Stephen and Ruth (Wenk) DeMedo. Sandy attended Black River High School until the centralization of the District graduating in 1960. She started college at SUNY Oneonta but due to illness she had to switch school to be closer to home. She was a member of the AXO Sorority, graduating from Canton ATC in 1963 with an Associate’s Degree in IBM Accounting.

Sandy first met Bill at a youth conference when she was a freshman in college. Stories of how Bill and his identical twin Burt, pulling her ponytail at that conference are still told today. Sandy and Bill met again at Canton ATC as a senior and a freshman when Sandy helped Bill with his studies. She married William E. “Bill” Lamb on October 2, 1965 at the Black River United Methodist Church. The couple resided first in Syracuse, while Sandy worked at Memorial Hospital inputting patient data. When Bill received his draft letter, he joined the US Navy and Sandy moved back to her childhood home in the‘middle of Middleton Hill” as the couple would be blessed with a Daughter, Diane. When Diane started school, she began as a room mother in Diane’s classrooms. She also added being Maude Robert’s substitute at the Black River Free Library when the library was located next to the canal in the village. In 1979, she became the full-time librarian upon Maude’s retirement. During her tenure as the librarian she was instrumental in the transformation of that tiny house next to the canal to the Public Square location and finally a new library on outer Maple St; the Sally PloofHunter Memorial Library. Sandy retired in 2017 as the longest sitting Librarian for the Village of Black River and was named Director Emeritus.

To say that everyone knew Sandy was an understatement and was extremely active in her community. Even after retiring, if someone didn’t know something, it was ‘ask Sandy from the Library, she’ll know’. She was a leader for Girl Scouts, a room mother, member of the Black River Elementary PTA, member of the CCS Board of Education and president of the board for six years, member of the Black River Fire Department Auxiliary, Kamargo Association, Black River Cemetery Board, Black River UMW and held various offices in all.

Sandy loved to read and would have a book in reading mode always with her. Crafting, making jewelry, gardening and spending time with family and friends at their camp at Brantingham Lake completed her. She always had a puzzle on hand to pass the time at camp. She enjoyed collecting historical memorabilia of Black River and was always on the ‘look out’ for Rundell Dairy milk bottles and postcards of Black River and Brantingham Lake. Sandra, or Sandy as everyone knew her, was always known to extend a helping hand to anyone in the community from dropping off books to shut-ins, making extra for meals and sending Bill to deliver, even taking Thanksgiving dinners to the guards at the check points for Fort Drum. She may have given birth to only 1 daughter, but she had so many more that she loved as her kids.

Among her survivors are her husband, William E. “Bill” Lamb, Black River, her daughter and companion, Diane E. Miller and John Fiorentino, Raleigh, NC and a grandson, Zachary J. Miller and his companion, Breanna Smith, Pensacola, Fl.

Calling hours will be held 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, August 8th at the Bruce Funeral Home 131 Maple St. Black River.

A calling hour will be held Monday, August 9th Noon to 1 pm. The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.

Burial will follow at the Black River Cemetery. A “Celebration of Life” will be hosted at the Sally PloofHunter Memorial Library immediately following the burial.

Donations may be made to the Sally Ploof Hunter Memorial Library 101 Public Works Dr., Black River, NY 13612, Black River Ambulance Squad 121 LeRaySt., PO Box 314 Black River, NY 13612.

Online condolences may be made at Brucefh.com

08/05/2021

Jane R. “Daisy” D**e, 89, of Watertown, NY and formerly of Black River, NY and Fruitland Park, FL passed away August 1, 2021 at the Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, NY.

Born on December 28, 1931 in Black River, NY, daughter of Henry and Nettie (Clark) Greico, she attended Black River High School.

Following school she worked at M.H. Fishman’s, in Watertown, as a clerk for two years. She then married Clifford A. D**e on January 29, 1950 at the first United Methodist Church in Black River with Rev Salmon Card officiating. The couple resided in Black River where Jane was a homemaker and provided childcare in her home. From 1969 until 1971 she worked at Cheeseborough Pond as a thermometer grader.

The couple moved to Jacksonville, FL in August of 1984. In 1986 they moved to Fruitland Park, FL.

Jane was a chairman for the March of Dimes in Black River for 30 years and Den mother for the Black River Boy Scouts.

Among her survivors are three sons and two daughters in law, Allan D**e, Carnegie, PA, Stephen (Sue) D**e, Magnet, NE, Arthur (Kim) D**e, Watertown, NY; four grandchildren, Jennifer (Kevin) Teufer, Rebecca (Adam) Suroviec, Jayson D**e, Justin (Kaitlyn) D**e; six great-grandchildren, Christopher and Haley Teufer, Aidan and Avery Suroviec, Christopher and Ella D**e, one sister and brother-in-law, Nancy (Robert) Papin, Albamora, NC, nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents she is predeceased by her beloved husband Clifford, a sister, Margaret Finnegan, a stepbrother, Harold Harvey and a stepsister, Lillian Murphy.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 16th at the Bruce Funeral Home 131 Maple St., Black River.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Carpenters for Christ, PO Box 57, Fruitland Park, FL 34731.

Online condolences may be made at www.brucefh.com

05/19/2021

Ruth Irene Robl, 96, a lifetime Black River native, passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side on May 16, 2021 at the Samaritan Summit Nursing Home, where she had resided since July of 2015.

Ruth was born on October 4, 1924, in Watertown, NY, the daughter of Arthur Charles Carroll and Clara Helen (Gates) Carroll. Ruth graduated as Valedictorian of the class of 1942 from Black River High School.

After graduation she worked at JJ Newberry and Pine Camp Post Exchange (now Fort Drum) where she met a young soldier from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. On October 14, 1943 Ruth was united in marriage to Harold Wenzel Robl, son of Wenzel Robl and Violet (Poeschi) Robl at Chapel 2, Pine Camp, NY (now Fort Drum). Their brief marriage would welcome 4 children before the untimely death of Harold on June 13,1952. She never remarried.

Having 3 remaining children to raise, Ruth worked for Mr. and Mrs. William Wheeler at Wheelers Drug Store in Black River. In 1961, she would go to work for the State of New York at the Division of Employment office in Watertown. However, she missed working in the Village where she was raised. In 1963 she was appointed Post Master of the Black River Post Office, by the Late President, John F Kennedy. A position she truly loved and as anyone can tell you, she went “strictly by the book”. She retired in 1986.

Ruth was a devout Catholic and was very active in the Altar and Rosary Society at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, where she was a life member and taught weekly catechism classes. After she retired, you could find her attending daily mass.

She was active in Home Bureau as well as being a Cub Scout Den Mother.

While employed she was active in both the State and National levels of the Post Master’s Association. As she loved to travel, but never had the opportunity while raising her children, she seized the opportunity to attend the Annual State and National Conventions, which took her to 40 of our 50 states. She also made the trek to Japan to visit her daughter.

She was a Life Member of the Watertown Post 61 American Legion after transferring from the Black River American Legion Auxiliary.

Family was very important to her. She loved family holidays with the Christmas season being her favorite followed closely by Easter. She enjoyed attending her

grandchildren’s sporting events. In her later years you could find Ruth playing bridge several days a week, attending church dinners throughout the county and enjoying the Little Theatre productions. She loved musicals and singing. She could often be found singing, no matter where she was, much to the dismay of her music teacher.

She leaves behind her daughters, Carolyn Bridenstine and her companion Gil Schugart of Black River and Florida; Jane Sayre and her husband Milton of Florida and Clayton; seven grandchildren, Brian and Laurie Bridenstine, Christopher, Sara, Harold and Daniel Robl; their mother and good friend Anne Marie Degraff; four great grandchildren, Edward and Jeffery Bridenstine, Jerryn Wade Peck and Katherine Ruth Robl; a sister in law, Arlene Robl of Oshkosh Wisconsin, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents Arthur and Clara Carroll and her husband Harold Robl she was predeceased by 2 sons, Donald Bruce in infancy 1946; Robert L. (Joanne) In 2014; a sister and brother in law, Catherine and Leonard Brunner of Long Island, NY;

her brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Elizabeth Robl, Kenneth and Mary Robl, Marie and Ralph Esslinger and Eugene Robl all of Oshkosh, Wisconsin and Isabelle Robl of Florida, along with her 16 first “Gates” cousins and several “Carroll” cousins.

Calling Hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 26th at the Bruce Funeral Home, 131 Maple St, Black River.

A prayer service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 27th at the funeral home followed by an 11 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church 208 LeRay St., Black River with Rev. Steven Murray officiating. Burial will follow at Black River Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Ruth may be made to Black River Ambulance PO Box 340 Black River, NY 13612, or St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 208 Leray St. Black River, NY 13612 or Hospice of Jefferson County 1398 Gotham St., Watertown, NY 13601.

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

02/08/2021

Dorothy J. Andrus, 89, of 30944 Burnup Road, Black River, passed away February 8, 2021 at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on February 11, 1931 in Rhinebeck, NY, daughter of Floyd A. and Katherine (Broderick) Millious, she attended Watertown High School.

She married Roger Andrus Sr., on March 28, 1948 at Asbury United Methodist Church in Watertown. The couple moved to Black River and has resided on the Burnup Road since 1958. Dorothy was a homemaker and stayed at home to raise their children. Once her children were older she went to work on Fort Drum as a civilian worker from 1981 until 1992.

Mr. Andrus worked 28 years for Northern Asphalt and retired from Fort Drum as a heavy equipment estimator. He passed away December 28, 2006.

Dorothy was former president of the Black River American Legion

Auxiliary; she was an avid bowler and enjoyed traveling, playing cards and spending time with family and friends.

Among her survivors are her four children and their spouses, Roger (Sandra) Andrus Jr., Rodman, NY, Katherine (James) Watson, Pt. Peninsula, Karyn Andrus, Denver, CO, Charles (Karen Stran) Andrus, Denver, CO, a daughter in law, Diane Mullen and her husband Patrick, Calcium; six grandchildren, Janice(Kyle) Towns, Richard (Kristan) Andrus, James (Melissa) Watson, Joseph Watson and his companion Tonya Schmitte, Stephanie (Sani) Yamout, Ashley (Zach) VanGaasbeek; many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and beloved husband she is predeceased by a son, James Andrus in 1993, a sister, Alice Austin and three brothers, Donald, Ronald, and Floyd Millious.

Calling hours will be held 11a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 10th at the Bruce Funeral Home, 131 Maple St., Black River.

The funeral service and burial in Black River Cemetery will be private for family.

Donations may be made to Black River Ambulance Squad PO Box 314 Black River, NY 13612

Online condolences may be made at www.brucefh.com

10/27/2020

Henry R. Reed, 75, of 31235 State RT. 3, Felts Mills, NY, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2020 at his home.

Born on August 12, 1945 in Hannibal, NY, son of Robert and Genevieve (Finnegan) Reed, he attended Carthage Central School.

At a young age, he worked for Wheelock Entertainment throughout NYS. While working, he met Dorothy Ransom and they married on January 20, 1968 at the United Methodist Church in Parish. Dorothy worked at Citgo in Great Bend and retired from AAFES on Fort Drum where she worked for many years.

Henry held various jobs before owning and operating Reed’s Auto Metal and Junkyard which he operated into the 90s, then went on to own Dot’s Variety on Public Square into the late 90s. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding motorcycles, and collecting coins and various other treasures. His absolute favorite past time was playing pranks on and harassing his four daughters.

Henry will be remembered for all the loud stories he told, the fact he was always right, his love for The Young & The Restless and all the love he had in his heart for his family. Those closest to him will recall his hard exterior and all the laughs they could handle.

Among his survivors are his beloved wife of 52 years, Dorothy; his four children; Samantha Williams and her companion Jerry Kirsch, Natural Bridge, Angelique and Daniel Morin, Utah, Sabrina and Dennis Smith, Felts Mills, Kendra Hamilton and her companion Joseph Lewis, Carthage; seven grandchildren; Rick Matthew, Cody, Angelique, Jacob, Christian, Hunter and Connor; several step grandchildren, his beloved dogs Perry and Bella and several nieces and nephews.

It was Henry’s wish to be cremated. There will be calling hours held from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, October 29th at the Bruce Funeral Home 131 Maple St., Black River.

Burial in Black River Cemetery will take place at the convenience of the family.

(Please wear a mask and social distance to keep our community safe.)

Donations may be made to ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.

Online condolences may be made at www.brucefh.com

09/21/2020

Ronald R. Durham, 69, of Watertown, passed away suddenly on September 19, 2020 at his home.
He was born on July 3, 1951 in Watertown, NY, son of Francis and Betty Warner Durham. He graduated from Belleville High School in 1970.
Ron began his career at NY Air Brake working in the Foundry from 1971 until 1991. He then became a delivery driver for Fed Ex for many years, retiring in 2013.
He married Bonnie L. Tharp on April 3, 1971 at the Emmanuel Congregational Church in Watertown. Bonnie has worked at NY Air Brake as a brake assembler since 2011.
Ron was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved spending quality time with his family and attending his grandchildren’s sporting and school events.
Among his survivors are his loving wife, Bonnie L. Durham, Watertown, his daughter and son-in-law, Mandy and Sam Vassallo, Watertown; his grandchildren, Gabriel “Gabe” and Molly Vassallo, his siblings, Patricia (Byron) Davis, Watertown, Larry Durham, Watertown, Shawn Durham and his companion Brianne Kirchoff, Adams, and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents he is predeceased by a brother, David Durham.
Arrangements are with the Hart & Bruce Funeral Home. There will be no calling hours or funeral service. A private buriaal will take place at the convenience of the family in Brookside Cemetery.
In memory of Ron donations may be made to the charity of their choice at the Northern NY Community Foundation 131 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601.
Online condolences may be made at www.hartandbrucefh.com