Obituary of Lena E. Sprague

GOUVERNEUR - Lena E. Sprague, age 94, passed away on June 21, 2014 at her home under the loving care of her family and Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley. Calling hours will be at French Funeral Home, Gouverneur, on Friday, June 27, 2014 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Her funeral service will be at the Gouverneur United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 28th at 11:00 a.m. with Lay Pastor Judy Sibley officiating. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery followed by a reception at the fellowship hall of the Methodist Church. Lena was born in Antwerp on October 9, 1919 to the late Clarence and Deborah (Harris) Hicks. She graduated from the Antwerp High School in 1936. Lena married Ward W. Sprague on June 29, 1941 at her parents' home in Theresa officiated by Rev. Harold Thomas. Mr. Sprague passed away on August 23, 1998. Mrs. Sprague worked as a nanny for almost 50 years, babysitting many of the teachers' children in Gouverneur. She had also worked for the Hosiery Mill in Gouverneur, J.J. Newberry's, as well as with her husband at the Glen Martin Bomber Plant in Baltimore during WWII. Lena was a member of the Gouverneur Methodist Church where she received the first "Mother of the Year" Award in 1958. She was a member of the UMW Unit #2, Friends of the Library, the former E.J. Noble Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, and was a proud sponsor of the Gouverneur Museum. Lena enjoyed learning new things and took many educational courses over the years. She liked to knit, crochet, cane chairs, and go antiquing. Her survivors include two daughters, Sharron Sprague-Vesneski of Ogdensburg, Pauline and Tim Valuckas of Litchfield, CT; three sons, Russell Sprague of Charlottesville, VA and Patti Sprague of Kensington, Maryland, David Sprague of Oxbow, Phillip and Cheryl Sprague of Reston, VA; two sisters, Ruth Roy of Baldwinsville and Grace McLear of Gouverneur; and a sister-in-law, Retha Hicks. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Rob, Holly, Heather, Kelly, Matthew and Greg; two great-granddaughters, Elizabeth "Elly" and Kamilah; and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, Ward; a son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Dr. Nancy Sprague; a daughter-in-law, Christine Sprague; two brothers, Herschel and Frank Hicks; a sister, Marion Robertson; and a granddaughter, Beth Sprague. Donations in memory of Lena may be made to the Gouverneur United Methodist Women Unit #2, P.O. Box 157, Gouverneur NY 13642, Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, 6805 US Hwy 11, Potsdam NY 13676, or to a charity of one's choice. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com.