ROME, NY – Charles E. McAleese, 83, formerly of Rome, passed away on May 15, 2019, under the care of Hospice in Orange City, FL.
Local services have been entrusted to Cleveland Funeral Home Inc., Watertown.
He was born on May 14, 1936, to the late Charles W. and Katherine (Tooley) McAleese Kleff in Syracuse.
He spent his early years in Philadelphia, NY with his aunt and uncle Simeon and Holly Austin.
On Jan. 19, 1957, he married the love of his life Margaret J. Godfrey at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Watertown, NY.
Charles was a member of the U.S. Air Force and proudly served his country during both Desert Storm and the Vietnam War. He retired in 1997 from Loring Air Force Base in Maine. He went on to work as a civilian at Griffiss Air Force Base until their closing in 1995. He was a lifetime member of the Rome American Legion and the Rome VFW.
Charles is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Margaret “Peg” McAleese; son and daughter-in-law, Terrance and Sandy McAleese of Hillsboro, OR; daughter and son-in-law, Tamera and Randy Smith of Rome, NY; five grandchildren, Jason (Ashley), Heather, Breanna (Kate), Meghan, and Patrick; seven great-grandchildren; a brother Robert (Robin) McAleese of Watertown, NY; and a large extended family.
He was predeceased by his parents; step-father, John Kleff; and a sister, Shirley (Richard) Crescenzi.
A celebration of life will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 7 at the American Legion Post 24 in Rome, NY. A burial with military honors will be held 2 p.m. August 8 in North Watertown Cemetery, Watertown, NY.
In lieu of flowers please consider donations in Charles’s name to the Henry P. Smith Post 24 American Legion, C/O B52 Account, PO Box 4877, Rome, NY 13442.
