Joseph ‘Ray’ Charette

Ray was born on Aug. 6, 1926, in Massena to the late Wilfred and Ella (Fauteux) Charette.

Ray grew up and attended school in Massena, graduating from high school in 1944. He entered the U.S. Army in 1944 and was with the Ninth Infantry Division during World War II. After his discharge from the Army, Ray enrolled in the Crane School of Music in 1947 and graduated in 1951. Later in 1951 he would marry Barbra Murphy and shared 30 years of marriage until her death in 1981. Ray would later marry Claire (Proulx) Frary in 1988.

Joseph was a music teacher in Troy and later was a principal at Half Hollow High School in Long Island for many years until his retirement.

Ray is survived by his wife Claire of Massena; two sons, Mark (Loraine) Charette of Syracuse and Peter (Mary Anne) Charette of Michigan; and two daughters, Holly Prescott of Pennsylvania, and Marcy Charette of Concord, New Hampshire. Ray is also survived by his three stepchildren: Gregory (Cindy) Frary of Syracuse, Mary Beth (Phil) Pelletieri of Saranac Lake and Julie (Brendan) Keough of Saranac Lake; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Ray is predeceased by his two sisters, Collette Kirkey and June Morrow.

Calling hours will be on June 16 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Phillips Memorial Home in Massena. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at noon on Wednesday, June 16 at the Sacred Heart Church in Massena. Burial with military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Ray’s name can be made to the St. Peter’s Outreach, 128 Main St., Massena, NY 13662.