Stuart, Florida & Alexandria Bay, NY

Patrick Joseph Chavoustie, known as “Pat”, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2019, in Stuart, Florida where he retired with his wife, Clorinda after they married in 2003. He was 85 years old.

Pat was born to Elmer and Mary (O’Neil) Chavoustie, on June 15, 1933, in Watertown, New York. He proudly served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 with the majority of his time stationed in Germany.

He leaves as his legacy, 9 children. From his first wife Carol (Ruff): Christopher Chavoustie, Richard (Lisa) Chavoustie, Webster, NY, Michael (Julie) Chavoustie, Alexandria Bay, Carol Ann (Rick) Ward, Alexandria Bay,  Paul (Paige) Chavoustie, Granby, CO. From his second wife Cheryl (Batchelor): Shelly (Shawn) Bemis, Patrick (Cynthia) Chavoustie II, Erin Chavoustie, Ryan (Natsuko) Chavoustie.

He also leaves to cherish his memory 21 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, his sister Theresa Terry and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his infant son Christopher, his brothers John and Eugene and sisters Coletta and Dorthey.

Pat served as the maintenance superintendent at Anheuser Busch in Baldwinsville, NY until he retired in 1994.  As a young businessman, Pat was well known for running establishments in Alexandria Bay and Watertown, NY including the Pirates Roost, The Gaslight and Uncle Sam’s Boat Tours. After 2003, in sunny southern Florida, Pat and Clorinda enjoyed times together at the beach, talking to each other, playing trivia and dancing the night away like two young love birds.

“To make a long story short” is a phrase that will always bring a smile to those who knew Pat well. Pat’s storytelling was cherished by many and he always had a captive audience when sharing exciting experiences from his 85 years of life. He traveled all over Europe during his military service and tour on the US Army boxing team that served to boost morale for the troops. 

He loved the company of people more than anything else and could make anyone feel comfortable in his presence. His hobbies included fishing, painting, discussing politics and current events, exploring history, and playing the guitar.

A celebration for Pat will be held June 15, 2019, for family and close friends in Alexandria Bay, NY where Pat enjoyed his summers as a child and several times these last few years. He will be missed.

Carol Joanne Chavoustie passed away suddenly on March 21, 2019 in Alexandria Bay. She was 83 years old.

Carol was born on August 20, 1935 in Detroit, MI. She was the only child of Richard J. Ruff and Janith (Reed) Ruff. She was born deaf and attended St. Augustine School for the Deaf and Blind. She went on to graduate from the University of Miami. Incredibly, Carol taught herself to read lips and speak so clearly that people rarely knew she could not hear. She never let her disability stop her from anything.

She married Patrick Joseph Chavoustie on September 15, 1956 at St. Cyril’s Catholic Church in Alexandria Bay, NY. Their marriage ended in divorce. Surviving are her four children: Richard (Lisa) Chavoustie, Webster, NY;  Michael (Julie) Chavoustie, Alexandria Bay; Carol Ann (Rick) Ward, Alexandria Bay; and Paul (Paige) Chavoustie, Granby, CO. She was blessed with 14 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. She sadly was preceded in death by her infant son Christopher, Richard’s twin brother.

Carol worked at Jefferson Rehabilitation Center in Watertown, NY. She made a life changing impact on deaf students’ lives. Always the adventurer, in 1977 she moved to San Jose, CA where she worked as a programmer for IBM for 10 years. She also taught night school at Gilroy College. As a deaf instructor, she amazingly taught hearing students American Sign Language. She later transferred with IBM to Kingston, NY so she could be closer to her children. She retired from IBM in 1994.

Carol was extremely artistic. To her everything was beautiful. She loved to oil paint, create ceramics, and garden. She was also always a very competitive board game player. She loved her dogs and especially Jesus. Her adventurous spirit led her to buy a 34’ boat, cruise it from the St. Lawrence River to Jupiter, FL, where she lived on her boat named “High Spirit”, which describes her so well–living life to the fullest, fearless, with her loving spirit, forever the overachiever and an overcomer. She will be greatly missed. A celebration of life will be held at a time to be announced.

Suzanne “Suzie” Louise Keeler, 63, Alexandria Bay, passed away on Monday, March 18^th at Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital in Syracuse.

Suzanne was born on November 29, 1955 in Alexandria Bay, the daughter of M. Wilmot and Louise Stott Keeler.  She was the step-daughter of Harold “Van” VanNorman.  She graduated from Alexandria Central School in 1973 and then from Canton ATC in 1975.  She, along with her brother Steve, co-owned Van’s Motor Marine Inc. in Alexandria Bay for 45 years, selling the business in 2015.

Suzanne served the community of Alexandria Bay in many ways including being an active board member of the Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce and a member/secretary for the Alexandria Historical Society at Cornwall Bros. Store.

She is survived by her brothers Walter (Johanna) Keeler, Canandaigua, NY, and Steve Keeler, with whom she resided; Her nieces, Jana (Jonathan) Keeler Rundle, Stanton Harcourt, UK and Lauren (Jason) Keeler Gundlach, Lancaster, NY; great nephews, Jamie & Iver Rundle, and Tanner Gundlach; and cousins, Wilmot & Judy Keeler, Redwood, NY, and Bethany (Michael) Keeler Leung, CA.

Services will be held at Costello Funeral Home later in the spring as follows: Calling hours on Friday, May 24th from 6-9 and a memorial service on Saturday, May 25^th at 11:00 am at the funeral home, with Rev. Freddie Webb, officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alexandria Township Historical Society, PO Box 695, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607 or the Alexandria Bay Ambulance Squad, 110 Walton Street, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607.

March 11, 2019

Alexandria Bay – Kathleen Marie DePuy, 72, ended her battle with Alzheimer’s disease on Monday, March 11 at United Helper’s Riverledge Campus in Ogdensburg, where she was a resident since August of 2017.

She was born December 21, 1946 in Ellenville, NY, daughter of William (Bill) and Winifred (Winnie) LaMont Coombs. She graduated from Ellenville High School in 1966. She moved to Alexandria Bay in 1979.

Kathy was a longtime employee of the Thousand Islands Tourism Council, Collins Landing. She enjoyed gardening, hiking, crafting, woodworking and listening to music. Although she was not an animal lover, Kathy was a founding and active member of Alley Cat Rescue. Her favorite pastime was spending time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her son Robert DePuy and his wife Dionne, their children Saraya, Gillian and Kenyon, Marathon, NY, her daughter, Heather Parrow and husband Jarrett, Plessis, NY, who share five children, Samantha Olsen and husband Skyler, Brianna Prashaw and her husband Dustin with their son Lane, Bailey Rogers, Lucas and Jerica Parrow. A sister, Carol Coombs, Alexandria Bay, also survives.

The family will receive friends on Thursday March 14, from 5-7pm, at the home of Jarrett and Heather Parrow, 25808 Route 26, Plessis.