Frank Rufa

Winthrop- Frank Rufa, 88, passed away Friday, October 28, 2011 at his home under the care of his loving family and Hospice. Arrangements are entrusted with the Hammill Funeral Home, Winthrop. Frank was born May 14, 1923 in Madrid, NY; son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Thomas and Candida (Cerro) Rufa. On March 2, 1946, he married Edna May Larrow, daughter of the late Mr. & Mrs. Harold and Dora May (Sharlow) Larrow of Massena, at St. Patrick's Church in Brasher Falls. Frank was drafted into the United States Army Air Corp. during his second year of high school. From 1943-1946, he served as a Sergeant and spent 30 months in Burma, China, and India during World War II. Following Frank's honorable discharge he was employed for 15 years, 1946-1961, at the Racquette River Paper Co, Sissonville, NY. In 1961 he joined his wife in the operation of Rufa's Grocery Store building in Winthrop. Frank, along with his daughter Peggy Cook, continued to manage the store up until his death. In July 1966, in addition to operating the store, he worked as a temporary mail carrier for the U.S Postal Service out of the Winthrop office. He later became a full-time mail carrier and retired after 25 years of postal service on December 31, 1991. He was a member of the Winthrop American Legion Post No. 514 and a communicant of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Brasher Falls. He loved watching Yankee baseball, fishing, playing cards with family and friends, and visiting with members of the tri-town community at his store whenever he had the opportunity. He is survived by his wife Edna May (Larrow) Rufa; three children and their spouses: Gerald and Mary (Phillips) Rufa of Fort Covington, Gene and Kathleen ( Kennedy) Rufa of Helena, and Peggy and Richard Cook of Winthrop; two sisters; Mrs. Grace and Lloyd Best of Winthrop and Mrs. Anna and Leland Thompson of Winthrop; seven grandchildren and one spouse: Erik Rufa MD of Newton Highland, MA, Adam Rufa DPT and Jennifer (Rauch) Rufa MD of Camillus, Jason Rufa of Winthrop, Nichole Cook of Galway, NY, Richard Cook of Norwich, NY, Raymond Cook of Liverpool, NY, and Noelle Rufa of Helena; three great-grandchildren; Amelia, Oliver, and Will Rufa of Camillus and several nieces and nephews. His brother, Paul Rufa, predeceased him in 1957. Friends and family may call at the Hammill Funeral Home in Winthrop, Sunday (October 30, 2011) from 2-4 and 6-8. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10 am, St. Patrick's Church, Brasher Falls, with Rev. Garry B. Giroux presiding. Interment will follow in St. Patrick's Cemetery. In lieu of floral offerings, the family of Frank Rufa request that you consider donations in his memory to: St. Patrick's Church, Brasher Falls, Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley, Inc, or the Brasher-Winthrop Volunteer Fire Dept. Memories and condolences may be shared with the Rufa family at www.hammillfh.com