Laurice E. Otakie

The funeral for Laurice E. Otakie will be Saturday 12:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church with Rev. Fr. Clarke French officiating. Burial will be in Brookside Cemetery. Calling hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. - 12 noon at the Reed & Benoit Funeral Home. Contributions may be made to the Otakie Family Scholarship Fund, 120 Washington St., HSBC Bldg. Suite 400, Watertown, NY 13601.

Mrs. Otakie, 87, died Tuesday evening at the Samaritan Keep Nursing Home where she had been a resident since July of 2004.

She was born in Syracuse, February 22, 1923, a daughter of Beshara and Alexandria Eassa. She graduated from Syracuse University. Laurice married Edward J. Otakie November 5, 1950. Mr. and Mrs. Otakie owned and operated Otakie's Grocery Store at 521 Mill St. for many years. Mr. Otakie died September 24, 1974. Mrs. Otakie worked for the Jefferson County Department of Social Services for 23 years.

Mrs. Otakie was a communicant of Trinity Episcopal Church, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Daughters of the Nile. She enjoyed playing bridge, traveling, needlepoint, cooking and baking Middle Eastern pastries.

Laurice is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Christine and Craig Acheson, Rochester; one son, Timothy, Baldwinsville; a granddaughter, Jennifer Leigh Allen, Rochester. Two brothers, Nicholas Eassa, Denton, TX and Alex Eassa, Syracuse. Two sisters, Marguerite Aswad, Naples, FL and Frances Eassa, Melbourne, FL. Many nieces and nephews.

A son Theodore Otakie passed away December of 2007.

Laurice's family wishes to thank and gratefully acknowledge the staff of the 2nd floor Samaritan Keep Nursing Home for the wonderful care given to their Mother the past six years.

Condolences may be made at www.reedbenoit.com.