Obituaries

John F. Shepard

John F. Shepard, 89, of Norfolk, died at Canton United Helpers on November 1, 2025.  There will be no services.  John is survived by his wife Margaret, son John Shepard (Barbara Zalar) of Rochester, a sister Sharon Shepard of Ohio, grandchildren, Ashley (Evan) Wexler of Greece, NY, Christopher Shepard of Michigan, a great granddaughter, Avery Wexler, several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings, Donald Shepard, Lloyd Shepard, James Shepard, David Shepard, Shirley Liebfred, and Gertrude Earl. John was born on May 10, 1936 in Norfolk, the son of the late Francis and Florence LaComb Shepard. He graduated from Norwood Norfolk Central School. John worked for his father’s company, Shepard Paving until going into the Army to serve his country. He married Margaret O’Hara on August 22, 1959, at St. Mary’s Church in Potsdam. John worked as a laborer for Laborer Union #1322 in Massena working on many projects in the north country. He was a member of the American Legion Post 925, Laborers Local #1322 and a parishioner of the Visitation Church in Norfolk.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, outdoor sports, and going to the casino.  In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Visitation Church, 3 Morris Street, Norfolk, New York 13667. 

John C. Trombley

John C. Trombley, 67, of Rensselaer Falls, died on September 21, 2025, at his home. There will be no services per his wishes.  John is survived by his wife Melissa, daughter, Amber Trombley (Trevor), Martville, sons, John Trombley Jr. (Misty), Hermon, James Trombley (Kara), Raymondville, Ronnie Trombley, Colton, Bryan Trombley (Machelle), Rensselaer Falls, brother, Carl Ober (Carolyn), Hudson, sisters, Sharlene Durham, Raymondville, Dawn Ashley (Brad), DeKalb Junction, Brenda Moore (Rick), Canton, 23 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his brother, Donald Ober.  John was born on April 24, 1958 in Corning, to the late Ronald and Joyce Ober Trombley. John worked in farming, construction and logging industries. John was an outdoor man, enjoying, hunting, fishing, and camping. He loved being with his grandchildren and family. Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the Center for Cancer Care, Potsdam. 

Joseph Matthew Petrulionis

Joseph Matthew Petrulionis, 65, died at his home in Canton, New York on August 24, of cancer and complications from treatments. Joe was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Joseph Matthew Petrulionis, Jr. and Lois Carolyn Hunter. Over his life, he also lived in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Germany, and, finally, in the North Country of New York. Joe’s life was saturated with intellectual curiosity and spirited pursuit across many fields, arts, and trades. He earned a B.S. from University of Maryland in Management and an M.A. in History from Indiana University of Pennsylvania; he also completed extensive graduate study in Economic History at Georgia State University. From 1981 to 1985, he served in the U.S. Army as a military intelligence analyst and was stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia and in Nuremberg, Germany. Later, in Atlanta, Georgia, Joe worked for several years in international banking and corporate finance. After relocating to central Pennsylvania with his family in 1996, he owned a small music store in Altoona. It was in the Penn State Altoona classroom as an Instructor of Philosophy and History, however, that Joe discovered his driving purpose and natural talent as he inspired young adults to develop a capacity for critical thinking and to establish their own well-informed basis for empathy, tolerance, and justice. His favorite classes to teach were Introduction to Ethics, The Theory of Knowledge, and American History at all levels, especially the Civil Rights era. Joe’s deep-rooted patriotism was based on honestly confronting our nation’s inclusive and complicated history—and, when needed, accepting the moral imperative of former Congressman John Lewis to “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” Joe’s good-natured sarcasm, entertaining lectures, insightful analysis, and generous advice made his courses among the most popular on campus; for many students, Joe was not only their favorite professor but became a lifelong friend and mentor.

As an adolescent, Joe played the classical guitar; later, he learned the art of the folk guitar and enjoyed playing old time music with local fiddlers and banjo pickers. He sought solace and adventure in the natural world and enjoyed hiking, backpacking, and camping—from the Smoky Mountains to the Maine Woods, from the Scottish Highlands to the Tirolian Alps. For Joe, bass fishing was a mental workout as well as a physical pursuit, and he thrived on the lakes of Florida, Pennsylvania, and Maine, sniffing out large-mouth bass in his canoe and beloved Crestliner. Joe read voraciously, relishing the novels of his favorite author, William Faulkner; as well as poetry; ancient epics, especially Homer’s Iliad; linguistic and cultural studies; narrative history; and radio antenna propagation. As a zealous gardener, Joe experimented with various horticultural techniques, meticulously working every year for an improved potato crop, more rows of green beans than the prior year, enough asparagus to share with friends, and flavor-packed peaches, plums, and cherries. He also bred unique iris cultivars, which inspired him to write an annual “parade of irises” on his blog to showcase the unique flowers that bloomed each year. Joe was a founding member of the Society for U.S. Intellectual History, and a member of central Pennsylvania amateur radio clubs and held an Amateur Extra Class license.

Joe Petrulionis leaves this world a more compassionate and thoughtful place. He will remain a shielding immortal presence for those who loved him. Joe is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sandy; daughter, Laurel; son in-law, Kris Klotz; brother, Mark Heimendinger (Tammy); and loving nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by two brothers, Stephen Petrulionis and Michael Petrulionis. A teacher to the end, Joe donated his body for research to the SUNY Upstate Medical University.  To honor Joe and his belief in our collective responsibility to nurture a caring and ethically responsible world, the family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Doctors without Borders, the International Rescue Committee, the Equal Justice Initiative, the American Shakespeare Center, the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison, or the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. 

Joyce C. Moulton

       Joyce C. Moulton, 79 of Rensselaer Falls, NY passed away on July 23, 2025 at Claxton Hepburn Hospital. Calling hours will be on Friday, July 25th at the Allen-Denesha Funeral Home in Dekalb Junction from 4-7 p.m.  Funeral services will be at the Kendrew Global Methodist Church on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at  1 p.m. with Pastor Terry Covey officiating followed by a burial service at the Kendrew Cemetery. There will be a reception/celebration of life following the services at the Rensselaer Falls Firehall.                                                                                                        

     Joyce is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Harry S. Moulton, four children, daughters, Jean (Gordon) Collins, Michelle (Stephen Hawk) Moulton, and sons, Brian (Snow) Moulton and Brent (Betsy Matthews) Moulton. Siblings, Carolyn Nye, Linda (George) Baldwin, Michael (Jeanne) Burnham, Rhonda (John) Hall, Cindy (Joe) Zollo, Dan (Terri) Burnham and Brad (Shelley) Burnham. Grandchildren, Andrew, Tiffany, Brandon (Ellen-Claire), Makenna, Peyton (Shannon), Broderick, Briallen, Brecken, Jocelyn (Ryan), Reagan, Kinsley and Avery. Great Grandchildren, Aiden, Elise, Nora, River, Karl, Elliot, Oliver, Cameron, Natalie and Arianna due in September. Joyce is predeceased by her father and mother, Carlton and Lois Burnham, brothers, Larry, Lloyd and Clarence Burnham. Joyce was born in Gouverneur, NY and later her family moved to Rensselaer Falls where she graduated from Heuvelton Central School. After graduation she attended Beauty school in Watertown and worked for a time as a hairdresser. She met her husband Harry and they were married at the Kendrew Methodist Church and lived on Pickle Street in Winthrop, Front Street in Rensselaer Falls and then moved to their current residence on Winter Road. Joyce had several jobs, she worked as a hairdresser, homemaker, at a department store, Medical Clinic, Canton-Potsdam Hospital, then for a Podiatrist before she retired. She was an active member of the Kendrew Global Methodist Church and loved her church family. Joyce was all about family, she loved attending her children and grandchildren’s sporting events, school concerts, family get-togethers and making Christmas cookies with her grandchildren. She enjoyed sitting around a campfire and camping up at her river lot, going out to eat and visiting with her restaurant families, attending band day at the fair, sewing, quilting, and her dog, Cookie.                                                                                           

     The family would like to thank the Rensselaer Falls Rescue Squad and Claxton Hepburn hospital for all that they did for Joyce over the years. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her name to the Gracious Friends Animal Sanctuary, Rensselaer Falls Volunteer Fire Department, Rensselaer Falls Rescue Squad or the Kendrew Global Methodist Church.