Illma M. Archer, 99, 341 Mullin Street, passed away January 17, 2012 at Wesley Health Care Center, Inc. in Saratoga Springs, NY where she had been a resident for the past few months.

Mrs. Archer was born September 4, 1912 in Watertown a daughter of Myron Charles and Mary Ellen “Nellie” Phillips. In June of 1931 she graduated from Copenhagen High School and on July 4, 1931 she married Leo F. Archer at St. Mary’s Church in Copenhagen with Rev. Owens officiating. The couple lived in the hamlet of Champion until Mr. Archers death on December 24, 1971 when shortly after Mrs. Archer moved to Watertown.

Mrs. Archer was employed with NTL Paper Products and Crown Zellerback international during WWII. She enjoyed her position in Empsall’s at the Hat Bar and in her 80’s was a caregiver for various people in the area. She was a communicant of St. Patrick’s Church, a former communicant of St. James Church in Carthage and a life member of the Daughters of Isabella. Mrs. Archer was a volunteer with the board of elections and a trustee of the rural school both in Champion. She was famous for her homemade donuts and her grandchildren and friends knew her house as “Grandma’s Inn.”

Surviving are three sons and two daughters in laws; Leo M., Carthage, Maurice R. and Gayle, Shelby, Montana, Lawrence E. and Carol, Deltona, FL., four daughters and two sons in law; Margaret A. Garris –Alexander and Allan ”Nick” Alexander, Manlius, NY, Helena R. Archer, Ellenburg Center, NY, A. Carol and Timothy Burns, Long Grove, Il., Mary C. Lee, Gansevoort, NY, thirty one grandchildren, multiple great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. A son Ferdinand, two brothers John Frederick and John Alvin and a sister Mary Doris all died in infancy, a brother Theodore Piddock, two sisters Gertrude Middlestate and Mildred Kehoe, a grandson, Joseph Archer, a granddaughter Sally Archer, a daughter in law Helen M. Schreck Archer, a son in law John Garris all predeceased her.

Calling hours will be Friday from 4-7 pm at the D.L. Calarco Funeral Home, Inc. A prayer service will be held at 9:15 am Saturday at the funeral home with a 10 am funeral mass at St. Patrick’s Church with Reverend Donald Robinson officiating. Burial will be in the spring at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Copenhagen. Contributions may be made to St. Patrick’s Church, 123 S. Massey Street, Watertown 13601 or to St. James Church, 321 West Street, Carthage, NY 13619. Condolences may be made to www.dlcalarco.com.

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