WATERTOWN, NY — Gerald L. Coryea, 78, of 609 Meriline Ave., Watertown, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, at his home where he was surrounded by his loving family and under the care of Hospice of Jefferson County.
A funeral Mass will be said 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church with the Rev. Jonas Tandayu M.S.C.Pastor officiating. A calling hour will precede the Mass at church from 10 to 11 a.m. A private burial for the family will follow in Glenwood Cemetery.
Arrangements are with the Hart & Bruce Funeral Home.
Born Feb. 8, 1940, in Malone, NY, the son of Clarence and Grace (Wells) Coryea, he graduated from Watertown High School in 1959. He then entered the US Air Force in 1959 and was a B-52 Bomber mechanic. He was honorably discharged from active duty in 1963. He then proceeded to serve in the reserves until 1965. Upon returning home he went to work for New York Air Brake as a machinist up until he retired in 2002.
He married Ann Marie Grable on Feb. 6, 1982, at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church. The couple resided in Watertown, and his wife worked at Sacred Heart Catholic School for eighteen years as a teacher.
Mr. Coryea was an active member of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church for many years and was commissioned as a lay minister. For 17 years he was the Eucharistic minister to the wonderful people at Skyline Apartments. He was a Minister and Sacristan at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart for the past two years. He was the president of the Holy Name Society, member of the Watertown American Legion, and proud member of the NRA. He was an avid hunter, train buff, and clock collector. Most of all he loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Among his survivors are his beloved wife of 36 years, Ann Marie Coryea, his four daughters and their husbands, Sheree and Pat Trainham, Chaumont, Shelly and
David Beyer, Missouri, Stacey and Steve Cannizzo, Ogdensburg, Ann Marie and Brian Wallace, North Carlolina, his brother and sister in law, Robert and Jane Coryea, Rochester, 12 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. His adopted daughter and her husband, Katherine and Bob Gural,TX, his adopted son and wife, Shawn and Paula Lavare, Brushton
Besides his parents he is predeceased by his first wife of 18 years, Patricia Scales-Coryea, a sister, Sharon Bassett, two brothers, Rev. Mr. Ronald Coryea, and Richard Coryea — his best friends, Larry Merrick and Linda Buttry.
Donations may be made to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church 320 W Lynde St. Watertown, NY 13601 or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
Online condolences may be made at www.hartandbrucefh.com
