Joanne (Hilborne) Crowder, 88, Ogdensburg

OGDENSBURG – Memorial Services for Joanne (Hilborne) Crowder, age 88, of Ogdensburg, NY, will be held on Monday, March 18, 2024, at 1:00PM at Oswegatchie Mausoleum with Deacon David Demers officiating. Interment will follow services. A Celebration of Life will follow for family and friends at the Ogdensburg Moose Lodge on 609 Pickering Street. Mrs. Crowder passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at the home of her daughter, Debra, surrounded by her loving family under the care of St. Lawrence Valley Hospice.



Arrangements are under the care and direction of Frary Funeral Home, Ogdensburg.



Joanne is survived by her children, Darcy Demers and her husband, Paul, of Myrtle Creek, Oregon, David Crowder and his wife, Patricia, of Ogdensburg, NY, Debra Crowder Montgomery and her husband, Joseph, of Ogdensburg, Diane Smith and her husband, Rick, of Florida, Douglas Crowder and his wife, Kathy, of Florida, and Denise Jensen and her husband, Rich, of Florida; her loving companion, Rupert Bailey of Morristown, NY; thirteen grandchildren, ten step grandchildren, twenty-two great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is predeceased by her siblings, Doris Richer, Reginald Hilborne, Donald Hilborne, Clarence Hilborne and Gloria Bifulco.



Joanne was born on October 6, 1935, in Ogdensburg, NY, the daughter of the late Walter and Mary L. (Soper) Hilborne. She graduated from Ogdensburg Free Academy. Joanne married Merle H. Crowder on July 31st, 1954, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg with the Rev. Floyd Brown officiating. He predeceased her on May 23, 1991. Joanne began her employment here in the city as a waitress as at F.W. Woolworth and also working for the Ogdensburg City School District as a secretary in the administration office. Joanne later traveled to Texas where she was an executive secretary to the President of Frito-Lay and then moved to California and finally Florida. Joanne moved back to the North Country eleven years ago.



Joanne's vibrant spirit illuminated the lives of all who knew her. A dedicated traveler, she found solace in the warm sands of Florida, crafting memories with her loved ones. Her skilled hands wove intricate patterns through sewing, knitting, and crocheting, leaving behind a tapestry of cherished heirlooms. Joanne's laughter echoed through Bingo halls, a testament to her love for lively gatherings. Yet, amidst her adventures, her greatest joy lay in the embrace of family, where her legacy thrives through generations of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Though she has bid farewell to this world, her warmth and love will forever linger in our hearts.



Donations may be made in Joanne’s memory to Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, PO Box 510, Potsdam, NY 13676 and to 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.



Online condolences may be made at www.fraryfuneralhome.com.