Ethel M. (Fayette) Fraser

HARRISVILLE, NY ~ Ethel M. Fraser, 96, of Harris Courts, Harrisville, peacefully passed away in her home on Saturday, September 8, 2018, where she was surrounded by her ever-present loving family who cared for her until death.

Born October 20, 1921 in Harrisville, NY, a daughter of Horace N. and Margaret S. (Duquette) Fayette, she attended country school in Geers Corners and Harrisville Central School with the class of 1939.

She married Donald Simon Fraser on May 20, 1939 in Harrisville and enjoyed over 63 years together before his death on September 19, 2002.

Ethel was a wonderful and loving mother and homemaker for much of her life taking care of her nine children, and from 1966 until 1969, helping her husband operate Fraser’s Texaco Gas Station in Harrisville which they owned.

She loved to travel, and toured throughout the USA and Canada with her husband making many trips to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia to Donald’s ancestral home where they built a cabin in 1967, and where they enjoyed many wonderful times there with family and friends. Don and Ethel loved to fish and often travelled to Quebec on fishing trips with their family. They became especially close to the Paul family of Pointe Bleue, Quebec on their fishing trips to Lac St. Jean and maintained contact with them for nearly 50 years. Throughout her life, Ethel enjoyed reading and doing the daily crossword, sewing and baking, but most of all, loved being surrounded by her large family and many friends. 

Ethel was a lifelong communicant of St. Francis Solanus Church in Harrisville and was a long-time member of its former Daughters of Isabella. She was also a member of the Adirondack Grange, Harrisville Alumni Association, and the Town of Diana Historical Museum, all in Harrisville.

Surviving are eight children, Donald G. “Punk” Fraser and wife, Dianne, of Harrisville, Doran G. Fraser, of Jacksonville, FL, Sharon A. Collette and husband Murray, Sheryl A. Luther and husband Jack, Angus J.R. “Rod” Fraser and wife Evelyn “Ebby”, Patrick C. Fraser and wife Brenda, all of Harrisville, Kelly M. Zimmerman and husband Randy, of Ellisburg, and Kimberley M. Young and husband Bart, of Harrisville; 24 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and 21 great great grandchildren; two brothers, Horace “Pete” Fayette, of Harrisville, and Gary Fayette and wife Lillian, of Gouverneur, in addition to many nieces and nephews

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her daughter, Shelley Alice, her grandson, Ethan Fraser, her daughter-in-law, Marcia (Hooley) Fraser, and 8 siblings, Florence Bancroft, Clifford Fayette, Oland Fayette, Vernon Fayette, Marion MacCue, Esther Graves, Evelyn Rickett and Gaylord Fayette.

Ethel’s funeral will be held on Thursday, September 13, 2018, beginning with a 10:15 a.m. Family Prayer Service at Scanlon Funeral Home, Harrisville, followed by an 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial from St. Francis Solanus Church in Harrisville with the Rev. Donald J. Manfred, Pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. A funeral luncheon will follow in the downstairs social hall of St. Francis Solanus.

Calling hours will be on Wednesday, September 12^th, from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis Solanus Church, Harrisville, Harrisville V.F.D., Harrisville Rescue Squad or the Town of Diana Historical Museum.

To view online obituary, share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit www.scanlonfuneral.com.

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