October 12, 2011

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Jean Lortie Clark, 94, was brought home to her Savior Wednesday, Oct. 12, at Samaritan Keep Home, Watertown, where she had resided since April 2010.

Calling hours will be 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Watertown. A prayer service will be held 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the funeral home followed by the 10 a.m. funeral Mass celebrated at Holy Family Church with Rev. Steven Murray officiating. Burial will be in St. Peter & Paul Cemetery, New Boston.

Born April 12, 1917, in the town of Pinckney, a daughter of Albert J. Lortie and Mary Agnes McDonald Lortie, she graduated from Adams Center High School, then entered Mercy Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1939 as a Registered Nurse. She also attended Syracuse University School of Public Health Nursing.

She married Paul W. Clark on Oct. 28, 1939, at St. Patrick's Church with Msgr. J. J. Plunkett presiding. Mr. Clark, a conductor for the New York Central Railroad who retired after 27 years, died Oct. 19, 1986.

Jean worked for a number of years as a staff Registered Nurse at Mercy Hospital, Jefferson County Public Health, and Clinical Instructor at Samaritan School of Nursing. She was a founding Director of the Social Service Department at the former House of the Good Samaritan Hospital, and retired at the age of 83 as Clergy Coordinator at Samaritan Medical Center for the Diocese of Ogdensburg.

She was a member and past president of the St. Patrick's Home and School Club, active in Catholic Charities, and member of Mercy Hospital Alumnae Association and NYS Nursing Association. She co-founded the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic at the former House of the Good Samaritan with Dr. Ronald Perciaccante.

In 1970, Jean received the Shapiro Award for Citizen of the Year in Watertown. In 1995, the Papal Award was presented to her "Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice" from Pope John Paul II and physically presented by Bishop Paul S. Loverde.

Her active volunteer work included Meals on Wheels, Jefferson County Committee on Alcoholism, Council of Social Agencies, and programs for the aging, child protection, and the stroke mobile.
Jean was very active in Holy Family Church, working with the poor, being commissioned a Lay Minister, and helping extensively with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. She was also the first woman Eucharistic Minister at Holy Family Church.

Surviving are a son, Michael R. Clark, and his wife, Penny Berow Clark, Watertown; three daughters, Mary Ellen Clark Holm and husband, Theodore J. Holm, Merritt Island, Fla., Paula J. Clark Stage and husband, William C. Stage, Watertown, and Margaret R. Clark Fraser, and husband, James W. Fraser, Watertown; two sisters, Bette Lortie Florentine and Marcia Lortie Dufresne; 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and a great great-grandson; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Her five siblings, Louis Lortie, Donald Lortie, Helen Strong, Martha Smith, and Whalen Lortie, all died before her.

Donations in her memory may be made to Holy Family Church, 129 Winthrop St., or 7th Floor Resident Fund, c/o Samaritan Keep Home, 133 Pratt St., both in Watertown, NY 13601 or to Central NY Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis, 5818 E. Molloy Rd., Syracuse, NY 13211.

Information provided by Cummings Funeral Service and Newzjunky.com, Watertown