Dorothy M. Phelps
GOUVERNEUR — Dorothy Mae Phelps, age 90, passed away on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at her home where she was under the loving care of her family and Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley.
Dorothy was born December 14, 1919 in Hailesboro to the late Guy and Mae (Payne) Dewey. She grew up and attended school in the Hailesboro area. She married Walter J. Phelps of Gouverneur. Walter and two of their sons died in a car accident on March 24, 1953.
After her husband's death, Mrs. Phelps continued farming for a short while before moving on to other jobs including short order cook and waitress. Always a hard worker, she was known to work seven days a week for many years. She had worked at various restaurants in Gouverneur before purchasing Jumbo's Diner on May 26, 1961. Dorothy loved her customers just like they were her family. She operated the diner twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It was important to her that public servants had a place to go and get a cup of coffee and a hot meal.
Dorothy accumulated numerous rental properties over the years, and was a well-respected landlord. She loved her children and grandchildren and to tend to her flower gardens. She enjoyed reading, wrote poetry and bowled on a women's league for many years. In later years she enjoyed listening to the scanner and spending time with family and friends. She is a recipient of the Gouverneur Citizen of Year Award, and she will be greatly missed.
Her survivors include a son, Charles and his wife Katherine Phelps of Gouverneur; three daughters and their husbands, Kay and Frank French, Karen and Bradley Charlton all of Gouverneur, and Kathy and Brian Mullaney of Redwood. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Marjorie Clement, eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her husband; two sons, Clyde and Claude Phelps; two grandchildren; her longtime companion, William Pratt; and her two sisters, Mrs. Maitland (Thelma) Smith and Mrs. Raymond (Kathleen) Gagnon.
Calling hours will be at French Funeral Home, Gouverneur on Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. Her funeral service will be on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home with Hospice Chaplain, Rob Schirmer, officiating. Burial will follow in the Hailesboro Cemetery.
Donations in Dorothy's memory may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley or the Shriner's Children's Hospital in Montreal.
