Leonard E. Charette

Leonard E. Charette, 91, of Loudon Rd., Cohoes, died Monday, March 23, 2009, at St. Mary's Hospital, Troy, embraced by his loving family. Born in Cohoes, he was the son of the late Ernest and Anna Girard Charette, and beloved husband of 68 years to Eileen V. LaPlante Charette of Cohoes. Lenny was a lifelong resident of Cohoes and received his education in the Cohoes Schools. He was a WWII United States Marine Corp. veteran and was employed with Dairy Lea and Crowley Dairy as a milkman. Later, Lenny operated the Curry Freeze soft ice cream stand in Rotterdam for 15 years with his wife. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing shuffleboard. In addition to his wife, Eileen, he is also survived by his devoted children, Lynda Kline and her husband, John of Mechanicville, Christine Reilly of Ballston Spa and L. Gary Charette of Florida; nine cherished grandchildren; 15 adored great-grandchildren; one precious great-great-granddaughter; sisters, Elaine Jarvis and Peggy (Paul) Gervaise, both of Waterford; brother, Raymond (Evelyn) Charette of Rexford; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held in the Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ltd., 105 Vliet Blvd., Cohoes, on Thursday morning at 10:30 with the Reverend Arthur J. Becker officiating Interment, with military honors, will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Waterford. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. Those wishing to remember Lenny may make contributions to the American Lung Association of NYS, 155 Washington Ave., Suite 210, Albany NY 12210 or to the Alzheimer's Assoc., Northeastern NY Chapter, 85 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12206-2083.