LAWRENCE FUNERAL HOME - Key Persons
Barry Walch - Barry has been a practicing funeral director since 1979, after starting his formal training in 1976. He was a funeral director with the White Funeral Home in Conway, NH. At that time they also operated the emergency ambulance coverage for that town so he served as an EMT as well. Barry has a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Colby College, Waterville, Maine; An Associate's Degree in Funeral Service from New England Institute of Anatomy and Funeral Studies, Boston, MA, and a Master's Degree in Counseling from the University of New Hampshire.
Barry came to Canton in 1989 to join the faculty of the Mortuary Science Program at SUNY Canton. A year later he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor, and in 1995 assumed the position of Program Director.
Barry has been affiliated with the Lawrence Funeral Home since 1991, assisting in all aspects of funeral service as his schedule at the college allows. He also serves as a State Director of the New York State Funeral Director's Association, and is a Founding Director of the New York State Tribute Foundation (a philanthropic association committed to helping the public with issues of loss and grief).
Barry resides with his wife Rhonda in Canton, New York and is a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church, Canton.
Betsey DeWitt Matteson, 89, died peacefully at her home in Canton, NY on Thursday, January 25, 2023. Betsey Alice was born in Walton, NY on July 16, 1933, the second child of Deweese W. and Eleanor A. Randall DeWitt. Betsey attended public schools in Walton, NY and graduated from Kingston, NY High School in 1951. She graduated from Wheelock College in 1955 with a BS degree in Early Childhood Education.
In 1958 Betsey married Robert S. Matteson at the Dutch Reformed Church in Kingston, NY, after teaching Kindergarten in Fairfield, CT and Kindergarten as well as First Grade in the Town of Ulster. After moving to Norman, OK she taught 4-year-olds at the Home Economics Nursery, University of Oklahoma. When she moved to Canton, with her family, she taught from 1968 to 1971 in the Pre-K Program of Canton Central School.
Betsey worked at the Canton Free Library from 1977 to 1987 as a library assistant and enjoyed meeting and helping many members of the Canton community. She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church for over 30 years, serving on the vestry and participating on many committees as well as attending services with her family.
In retirement Betsey especially enjoyed reading family diaries and educating herself about the details of her family history. She first transcribed her maternal grandmother's 1883 Diary which chronicled the death of two brothers from diphtheria and a baby brother from whooping cough. Then Betsey read her father's diaries and records including scrapbooks, photo albums, ledgers and other information he kept for 73 years. She shared much of this information with her cousins and a daughter. This was an exciting project because she discovered new information about her family, and after reading these records she sent them to the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston, MA which collects early manuscripts.
Betsey is survived by her husband Bob of Canton; her children Alice (Michael) McElfresh of Livermore, CA, Jennifer Matteson of Worcester, MA and Howard (Kristina) Matteson of Florham, NJ; grandchildren Joshua, Sara, Benjamin, Connor, Melina and great grandson Theo.
Elmer Denesha - Started his career in the funeral business in 1941 when he served as an apprentice at the Kentfield Funeral Home. He worked at the funeral home until 1942 when he joined the Navy and served overseas for two years in the Pacific. After his discharge from the Navy, he worked with his father for 2 years then returned to work at the Kentfield Funeral Home. Elmer graduated from the Simmons School of Embalming and Mortuary Science and received his Funeral Director's license in 1951.
Job Titles:
- Charmaine 's Son and Future Funeral Director
(Due to New York State regulation, we are unable to provide biographical information regarding funeral home staff who do not hold a Funeral Directors license.
Margaret P. Vining, 87, of United Helpers Maplewood Health Center, Canton, NY, and formerly from Hermon, NY, died after a brief illness at Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam, NY, on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 7:09 PM surrounded by her children. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, July 30th, 2-5 PM, Lawrence Funeral Home, 21 Park Street, Canton, NY, when friends, colleagues and family members can share their experiences about this awesome woman. Additional off-street parking is available behind "LUNA" at 18 Park Street. Her ashes will be interred at the Vining Cemetery, Thorndale, Ontario, Canada. Margaret Ann Popple was born November 20, 1934, in Easton, PA, the daughter of the late Ceylon George Popple and Harriet "Hilda" (Chilton) Popple Madison. In her formative years, conditions forced the Popples to move frequently around the North Country, residing in Marshville (Hermon), DeKalb Junction, Potsdam, and Watertown. She was a graduate of Watertown High School (1952), and earned a Nursing Diploma from the House of the Good Samaritan, Watertown, NY, in 1955, that included training at the St. Lawrence State Hospital, Ogdensburg, NY. In 1975, she attained an A.A.S. in Nursing, followed in 1981 with a B.S. in Nursing, both through Regents External Degree Programs with the State University of New York. In 1984, she received a Master's in Nursing from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson. Nursing was her life's vocation, with early work as a Staff Nurse at the House of Good Samaritan, Watertown, Columbus City Hospital, GA and E.J. Noble Hospital, Canton, NY. Margaret started working at SUNY Canton in 1968, as an instructional support associate in the nursing lab and later was named director of the nursing program. Under her leadership, the program thrived and the College was able to establish the bachelor's degree in health services management. A favorite among students, she was one of only 407 nurses statewide to receive the Nurse of Distinction designation in 1991, which is based upon significant contributions to the field of nursing. She retired in 1996 as Associate Dean of the School of Health and Medical Technology, having inspired many young health professionals who kept in touch with her through the years. Etta K. Heyler, E.J. Noble Hospital, Virginia M. McAllister, SUNY Canton, and, best friend, Gladys Sandwick, all had a significant, nurturing influence in her life. Margaret was inducted into the SUNY Canton Hall of Fame in 2011. She was a past board member or officer of: Hermon-DeKalb Central School, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) District 6, and the Canton-Potsdam Hospital Foundation, as well as numerous SUNY Canton committees. Some of her past professional association memberships included the: the American Nurses Association, New York State Society for Aging, New York State Associate Degree Council, and United University Professions. In 1992, a Gerontological Nurse certification was granted to her by the American Nurses Association. She was a member and former leader at Fowler Baptist Church, NY, and also had been a youth teacher at the Baptist church in Hermon. Margaret married the late William Carey Southwell Vining, at the First Baptist Church of Hermon, NY on December 10, 1955. "Maggie" was a lifelong resident of Hermon, living in the village, and moving to Trout Lake in 1987. Her unwavering, frequently unconditional, love and support of family (and friends) was evident throughout her lifetime. Vining vacation travels in the 1960s and 1970s sometimes meant crossing the U.S. through northern states and Canadian provinces to reach British Columbia, making for many fond family memories. Later, as an avid Country fan, she trekked to venues in New York and Ontario, being admired for fearless solo pursuits, after the passing of her husband, Bill, in 2000. Gordon Lightfoot held a singular fondness in her heart, sharing his music with her children. A fascination with poppies and the Arts and Crafts movement developed over her visits to Arizona and California, with friends and family. In all her travels, she practiced spiritual encouragement, and enjoyed lifelong learning, reading, word puzzles, scrapbooking, and working with watercolors. She was a kind neighbor and was especially grateful for life on Trout Lake with family, friends, and her dogs. Her positivity continued to shine at Maplewood Health Center, happy in her care and showing interest in the lives of people around her. Surviving are a brother, Thomas D. Popple, Fort Collins, CO; two sons and their wives, Timothy and Vicky (Miller), Latham, NY, and Daniel and Martha (Smith), Fletcher, NC; two daughters and their husbands, Julie and Allen Spadaccini, DeKalb Junction, NY, and Carrie and Richard Heffron, Hermon, NY; by seven grandchildren: Johanna (Vining) and husband Shawn Shopmyer, Judson Vining, Caitlin Spadaccini, Walker Vining, William Kasurak, Jenevieve Spadaccini, and Emily Kasurak; by three great-grandchildren Kaytence Vining, Madeline Shopmyer, and Felix Shopmyer; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is predeceased by one brother William Douglas Popple, and four sisters, Cora Marceline "Marcy" Jacques, Martha "Jean" Rector, Cecile "Joan" Newberg, and Mary Katherine Mandigo. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.lawrencefuneralhome.org. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Canton College Foundation, alumni.canton.edu, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, stjude.org, or the charity of one's choice.
Job Titles:
- President of the St. Lawrence County Funeral Directors Association
Paul P.B. MacKay - Born in Star Lake, NY, Paul attended Clifton-Fine Central School until which time J&L Steel closed and his family relocated to Pennsylvania and later Maryland. Paul attended Catonsville Community College, outside of Baltimore, Maryland, where he earned his degree in the Mortuary Science Program in 1992. He served his apprenticeship in Williamsport, Maryland with the Osborne Funeral Home from 1992-1993 and received his Funeral Directors License from the state of Maryland.
In 1993, Paul took a position at the Stauffer Funeral Home in Frederick, Maryland ( large firm serving over 500 families per year) and was employed there until he returned to the North County in June 2003.
Paul joined the Lawrence Funeral Home staff in April 2004 and received his New York State Funeral Director's license June 2004. He is the Manager and proud owner of the Lawrence Funeral Home.
Paul is President of the St. Lawrence County Funeral Directors Association; member of the St. Lawrence Lodge # 111 F&AM, associate member of the VFW Post #1231 and the Canton Lions Club. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time on his property in Russell, hunting, fishing, sugaring and spending time with family.
Paul resides in Russell, New York with his wife, Charmaine and their children Gage and Sydney Coffey and Cooper MacKay.
Job Titles:
- Funeral Consultant and Dear Friend
Job Titles:
- Dear Friend and Funeral Attendant