April 23, 2008     

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Felicia V. Keller, 89, of 679 Grant St., died Wednesday, April 23, at her home.

Born May 26, 1918, in Schenectady, a daughter of Philip F. and Lillian Kulongoska Tontarski, she graduated from Watertown High School in 1936, and then graduated from the Watertown School of Commerce. 

She married William G. Keller on Feb. 20, 1941,at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church with Reverend Lesperance officiating. He died Sept. 24, 1987.

After her high school graduation, during World War II, she was a secretary at Fort Drum, then Pine Camp. Mrs. Keller was a secretary for Bagley & Sewall, Black and Clawson, Mayor Lauchenauer, Black River Abstract, Eugene J. Hughes president of the Watertown Chamber of Commerce and two presidents of Jefferson Community College, Gerald Walsh and John Deans, retiring Jan. 3, 1987. 

She was active in the Parent Teachers Association, a volunteer for the Sisters of the Precious Blood, Samaritan Keep Home and the Sacred Heart Festival donating baked goods. 

Mrs. Keller was a member of Home Bureau and a communicant of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church. 

She enjoyed boating with her husband, spending time with her grandchildren and cooking. 

Mrs. Keller was active in the National Secretary’s Association and in 1967 she was awarded secretary of the year. Over the years, she received many awards for her baking, winning a blue ribbon in 1971 for her Hawaiian Apple Pie, and earned second place for her Apple Coffee Cake in 1972.

Surviving are a son, Timothy W., Watertown; a daughter and her husband, Karen K. Harter-Reid and Donald Reid, Sackets Harbor; a granddaughter and her husband, Kris and Pat Conners, Adams; a grandson, Troy Harter, Watertown; three great grandchildren, Leah, Libby and Alaina Conners; several nieces and nephews. 

A brother, Richard E. Tontarski, and a sister, Adele Evans, died before her.

Calling hours will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the D.L. Calarco Funeral Home, Inc. A prayer service will be held 9:15 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church with Rev. Richard Huber officiating. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery. 

Contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Precious Blood, 400 Pratt Street, Watertown.





Information provided by D.L. Calarco Funeral Home and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.