Loretta “Dolly” I. Finley, age 79, of Edwards, passed away on Wednesday evening, June 6, 2012 at the St. Joseph’s Home in Ogdensburg.

Calling hours will be at French Funeral Home, Edwards on Sunday from 6 – 8 p.m. There will be an additional calling hour on Monday, June 11, 2012 from 10 – 11 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by her graveside service in the East Riverside Cemetery, Gouverneur at noon. The service will be officiated by Lay Pastor Art Zehr.

Dolly was born on April 14, 1933 in Sackets Harbor to the late Stanley and Beatrice (McPherson) Zeller. She was raised by her maternal grandparents, James and Susie McPherson. Dolly attended schools in Natural Dam and Gouverneur, and earned her G.E.D. later in life.

She had worked as a clerk for J.J. Newberry in Gouverneur and the Edwards I.G.A. before using her home for child care for area children. Loretta married Frederick W. Finley on September 26, 1954. The couple lived in Gouverneur before moving to Edwards in 1958. In 1965 they moved into the house on Second Street where Mrs. Finley currently resided. Mr. Finley, an electrician for St. Joe and the Natural Dam Paper Mill, passed away on August 20, 1978.

Dolly was an honorary member of the Natural Dam Birthday Club that her grandmother was a charter member. She also was a member of the Gouverneur American Legion Auxillary and of the Trout Lake Pajama Party Club at Sandy Gotham’s place. Dolly enjoyed cooking, baking, and spending time with her family.

Her survivors include three daughters, Suzanne Given and her husband Darrell of Russell, Kimberly Ferguson and her husband Michael of Cheyenne, WY, and Donna Finley and her partner Jean Donohue of Newfield, NH; her son, Frederick J. Finley of Edwards; two sisters, Priscilla Zeller and Cecilia Wegge; and a brother, Stanley Zeller, Jr. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many cousins in the Gouverneur area.

She was predeceased by her parents; grandparents; her husband, Frederick; and a brother, Donald Zeller.

Donations in memory of Dolly may go to the St. Joseph’s Home, 950 Linden St., Ogdensburg NY 13669 or to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse NY 13220.