Uncle Al Goes Home

Alfred L. Chaney 1929-2010 - We will miss him.


HOWLAND -Alfred L. Chaney, 81, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, May 27, 2010, at The Ridge at Shawnee in Lima.

Alfred was born in Warren on March 21, 1929, the son of Frank A. and Matty (Brown) Chaney. He had lived in Newton Falls for 72 years before moving to Howland 9 years ago.

Alfred was a draftsman with Wean Industries for 23 years retiring in 1982. He became a real estate agent for Century 21, where he worked from 1983 to 1999, and owned a Century 21 office in Warren prior to its consolidation.

Alfred married the love of his life, the former Dorothy E. Winger, on Feb. 19, 1954. They were married a wonderful 48 years before her passing on Sept. 2, 2002.

Alfred was a U.S. Army veteran from 1951 to 1952 serving during the Korean War, and continued his service in the Army Reserves until 1956. He was a member of Newton Falls United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Newton Falls Masonic Lodge 462 since 1963, and he was a Newton Falls city councilman for eight years. Alfred loved bowling, golfing and Ohio State football.

Memories of Alfred will be carried on by his two sons, Dr. Michael A. Chaney and his wife, Rae of Pittsburgh, and Dr. Patrick A. Chaney and his wife, Lisa of Lima; and seven grandchildren, Brent, Grant, Blake, Addison, Katilyn, Morgan and Lauren.

Alfred was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy; and two sisters, Mildred Lesniak and Martina Thoney.

The family will receive friends at the James Funeral Home in Newton Falls from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., where a Masonic service will be held at 5:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Newton Falls United Methodist Church. The Rev. Gordon Ferguson will be officiating the service.
Alfred will be laid to rest next to his wife, Dorothy, at Newton Falls Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to James Funeral Home, 8 E. Broad St., Newton Falls, Ohio 44444, 330-872-5440.

Journal Question – When did you become a Christian?

Mom doesn’t have an answer in her book.  I know she was young though.

I was 16 when I made a decision to make Jesus Lord of my life.  I remember that I always had a heart for God from early years but 16 was when I made the decision on my own that God was for me.  It was also the year I was baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit.  I remember being in Hoosick Falls at a youth rally and sitting up on the left side because I was playing my saxophone in the orchestra.  It was October.  I don’t remember the message or who was preaching.  I just remember that was my new birthday.

When is your Christian birthday?

Who is this lady who has stolen Dad's heart? Find out here in my interview with Rosemary.

When were you born? May 25, 1938 on a farm in Ontario Canada. Her grandmother was a midwife and weighed her on a chicken scale. She was talking before she had teeth.

What do you want us to call you? Most people call her Rosemary.

How did you meet Dad? Rosemary volunteers for a lot of groups at church. She was in charge of who gets on the bus for the trip to the Passion Play in Hudson, FL, on March 25. There were seven people missing from her list at the meeting place. Dad and six others were already on the bus and refused to get off. Dad was sitting in Rosemary's seat behind the bus driver, so Rosemary sat behind him and they talked all the way. After the trip, Dad said see you Sunday. They met at the coffee connection and went to church together. And that started the friendship. Dad asked if he could call her every night and if he could pray with her. Her thought was, "he isn't real," though she did trust him from the first day. Their next date was a Jewish Sader.

How long were you married before Dad? The first marriage was to Tony for 17 years and the second was to Bill for 26 years, both husbands passed to the next life.

How many children and grandchildren do you have? Three from my first marriage: two boys and a girl. Steve is 50 and works for the Tampa Airport; Glenn is 45 and a retired trucker and carpenter; and Charmaine is 44, artistic and musically inclined and working for a cleaning company's office. Rosemary also has a step-daughter, Janet who lives in Niagara Falls and a foster daughter, Marilyn. She has raised 98 foster children. She has seven grandchildren. Steve has two children: Adam is 28 and works as a tiler, and Amanda is a hotel event planner. Glenn has two children: Anthony, 25, works for Microsoft in Washington State and is getting married in January to a Mexican girl; Shawn, 23, is studying to be a pastor and getting married July 10th in Iowa. Charmaine has three kids: Danessa is in college for engineering, Preston is 14 Ocala, and Lawrence is 8.

Did you work outside the home? Yes at a hospital in St. Petersburg as a nurses' aid, switchboard operator, and supervisor until she transferred to Ocala. She is also involved with Home Interiors as a home decorator. Rosemary loves housework. I'm thinking maybe Dad and Rosemary should travel to Lakewood, NY about once every three months so she can clean my house! She doesn't sit still much.

How do you spend your days now? Tuesday and Thursday she volunteers at church.

What is your favorite color? Pink

What color is your wedding dress? Seafoam green, it was given to her by a friend of her mothers (new).

What is your favorite food? Spinach and Asparagus

Do you wear perfume? Yes, Oscar de la Rente, she is allergic to most.

What is your favorite flower? Lily of the Valley

Do you have a favorite song? Not really. She likes Because God Made Thee Mine, No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus, Open My Eyes, Lord, It Is Well. She also likes opera and musicals but can't read music.

Do you do crafts? No, but she does like scrapbooking and journaling.

What is your favorite Bible verse? Be still and know I'm God.

What is your vision for marriage with Dad? We will clean/volunteer together and go on mission trips to Jamaica and maybe India. The mission in India has 500 orphans; and Dad would love to see the orphans he supports. The orphanage in Jamaica is outside of Kingston.

Where are you going on your honeymoon trip? London, Niagara Falls, and Toronto, Canada, Buffalo and Lakewood, NY before spending two weeks in Hudson Falls. They have to be back in FL by September. She has a brother, Monte, who lives in Ottawa Canada.

In my conversations with Rosemary, I picked up from her talking that she is organized, hates computers, is a giver and doesn't like being alone. She is very sensitive and a Toronto Maple Leaf hockey fan. Oh, and I just found out that Rosemary and Dad are going to take a computer class at church in January so there is hope yet that we can communicate via the internet!

Welcome Rosemary. She will be a fun addition to this family. I've enjoyed talking with her and I know you will too.

Robison Angel

An angel has come to visit the Robison residence and keep it safe from all intruders.  Great Mother's Day gift Glenn!  I'm looking forward to seeing it in person soon.

Journal Question - Special Memories

This one might take a little more time than previous questions.  However, I think it will be worth it.

List one special or fun memory you have for each of your brothers and sisters.  Here are mine.

Chris - She taught me how to play her instruments.
David - He called to talk to me! 
Sue - Clowning around in the family room making Chris and I laugh really hard.
Jim - Comforting me during Mom's departure.
Mike - Asked me to play piano for his wedding.
Steve - Camping in pop-up trailer. Steve was about three and wanted to sleep with me not Mom!  I felt very special to be chosen by him.

Journal Question - Grandparent's house

This week's journal question is:

Describe your grandparents' houses. Did you visit them often? Boy did I ever! I remember being at Grandma's all the times. I would walk home the long way just to stop by and see her and Aunt Linda. I was always wanting to spend the night at Grandma's. I didn't even mind sleeping on the couch. It was so peaceful there. The house was built by Grandpa Brown. It had a kitchen that opened to the dining room that opened to the living room and then a front porch. Off the kitchen was a small hallway that had the bathroom and two bedrooms and stairs up. Upstairs, which were very steep, were two bedrooms and another bathroom. The basement stairs were just inside the back door. I have lots of nice memories of Grandma Brown's house. I don't remember visiting Grandpa Hodges but one time.

Uncle Dan and Aunt Sharon live in Grandma's house now. They have made it beautiful. It is a show place that should be in a magazine. Aunt Sharon has a knack for decorating and making people feel at home in it. It is absolutely beautiful now.

Journal Question - Childhood Home

Did you enjoy living at 31 Tenth Avenue? I still remember living in the little house before Dad added the two-story addition. It was small but we didn't notice as we were small too! I shared a room with Chris and Sue; we each had our own twin beds. I don't remember dressers, do you? or a closet? We all shared one bathroom and seemed to do okay. I remember doing dishes in the corner sink. Eating at the long picnic table. We played outside mostly. Oh yeah, the big upright piano was in the main room next to the table. I remember when Mike and Steve came home from the hospital and Mom set up the basinet in front of her bedroom door.

I really didn't like the neighborhood though as I didn't like the kids on the block; they were mean. I did my best to escape from there by going to Grandma's or to friends.

The house changed over the years...and is still changing, right Mike! It is still home and I'm glad Mike has made it his own too.