May 20, 2011

BEAVER FALLS, N.Y.   —  Joyce  Morie Sweeney Monnat VanCour, 69, of Main Street, Passed away with her loving husband and children by her sideThursday afternoon, May 19, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse.

Born May 14, 1942, at Lewis County General Hospital (LCGH), Lowville, a daughter of Jeremiah and Edith (Schermerhorn) Sweeney, she graduated from Beaver River Central School in 1959. She also graduated from Utica School of  
Beauty and Commerce. 

She married Franklyn C. Monnat on Sept. 10, 1960, at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Croghan. Franklyn died Nov. 25, 1965. She married David W. VanCour on June 29, 1968, at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church.

She was employed at the Margot Shop in Lowville prior to her marriage to Franklyn. She was also employed as a baker at LCGH. She served as town clerk for the Town of Croghan from 1979 to 1995, when she retired due to health.

Born and raised in Beaver Falls, she resided at the McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, where Frank was stationed for some time, where the couple returned to Beaver Falls in 1961 and shortly after purchased their home on the River Road, now Route 126. She and David moved to their current home, Main Street, Beaver Falls, in 1991.

Joyce enjoyed gardening, arts and crafts, singing in the church choir, and spending time with family and friends. She was a lifetime member of the Beaver Falls Methodist church, Lewis County Sportsman Association, Beaver River Fish and Game Club, Carthage Rod and Gun Club, Riverbank Singing Needles, Beaver River American Legion Auxiliary Past Resident, UMW, she was a supporter of the Kidney Foundation, Volunteered at the Thrift Store in Lowville, was a member of LCGH and volunteered at the gift shop, and was a local columnist for Beaver Falls News for the Journal and Republican.

Surviving are her husband, David; children Bryan (Amy) Monnat – Carthage, Sheri (Paul) Schulz – Lowville, Debra (Joseph) Schneeberger – Oviedo, Fla., Dawn (Allen “Bubba”) Ashline – Croghan, Douglas (Laura) VanCour – Croghan, Nancy VanCour and her companion Kurt Gerow – Croghan; 17 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; two brothers Jack (Mary) Sweeney – Glenn (Sharon) Sweeney; sister-in-law Ruth Sweeney and brother-in-law Richard Turck; in-laws, Edna Ritz, Chib (Dorothy) Monnat, Gordon (Barb) Monnat, Kee (Stump) Proulx, Rosemary (Duane) Schwendy, Izzie Pettit, Mouse (Janet) Monnat, Patricia (Robert) Campanelli, Michael (Susan) Monnat, Stephen (Dorothy) Monnat, Vincent VanCour Jr., Lavona (Tussy) Parks, Thomas VanCour.  

She was predeceased by two brothers, Neil and Paul, and six sisters Doris Sabo, Emma Turck, Dorothy Buneo, Gladys Bourcier, Joyce and Janice who died in infancy, a mother-in-law, Evelyn VanCour, a sister-in-law Florence VanCour, parent-in-law, Maynard and Katherine Monnat, and a brother-in-law, Carl Ritz. 

Calling hours will be 2  to 4  and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at Beaver Falls United Methodist Church. The funeral will be held 11 a.m. Monday, May 23, at Beaver Falls United Methodist Church. 

Arrangements are with Adirondack Funeral Home, Croghan.

As were Joyce’s wishes, her body has been donated as an anatomical gift to SUNY Upstate for science. A private grave side service will be at a later date. Joyce has requested that donations made in her memory be given to the Lewis County Hospital Foundation Dialysis Project (7785 North State St. Lowville, New York).  

Online condolences may be made at www.adirondackfh.com.  

Information provided by Adirondack Funeral Home and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.