Obituary of Edna A. Kinney

GOUVERNEUR- Edna A. Kinney, age 93, of Gouverneur, passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2015 at her home under the loving care of her family and St. Lawrence Valley Hospice. Calling hours for Edna will be on Sunday, January 11, 2015 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at French Funeral Home, Gouverneur. Her funeral service will be on Monday, January 12th at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Beth Benham of the North Gouverneur Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Hailesboro Cemetery. Condolences may be made online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com. Edna was born on October 6, 1921 to the late George and Eva (Minnick) Blanchard. She graduated from Gouverneur Central School in 1938. Edna married John "Ben" Kinney on September 27, 1944 at her parent's home with Rev. Harold Thomas officiating. The couple was married for 68 years when Ben passed away on November 18, 2012. Edna started out working at JJ Newberry's, at the candy counter, which is where she and Ben met. In 1958 she and Ben, bought and ran her parent's farm on Rock Island Road. She was a member of the North Gouverneur Methodist Church; and a former member of the Grange; the Rebecca's; The Daughters of the Civil War and was a former 4-H Leader. She and her husband enjoyed traveling and traveled across the country and even traveled in Europe and went to Germany and Paris. She also enjoyed doing cross word puzzles; playing cards and yatzee and spending time with her family and friends. Edna is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Earl L. and Connie Kinney of Gouverneur; a daughter, Diane E. Kelley of Gouverneur; seven granddaughters and their husbands, Lisa and Matthew Foster, Tammy and Tony Simmons, Amy Bush, Cathy and Jacob Schiszler, Melissa and Andrew Adams, Sarah and Joshua Dowling and Amber Kelley; 21 great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She is predeceased by her parents and husband; a son, Gregory J. Kinney, who passed away in 2003; a son-in-law, Lindon Kelley Jr., who passed away in 1982; and two sisters, Mayfred Blanchard and Doris Taylor. Donations may be made in Edna's memory to the North Gouverneur Methodist Church, P.O. Box 157, Gouverneur NY 13642, Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, 6805 US Hwy. 11, Potsdam, NY 13676 or St. Jude Children's Research, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.