Edward "Eddie" & Mary "Margaret" Breen

Funeral services for Edward S. Breen, 85, and Mary "Margaret" Breen, 91 of 1123 Ford Street, Ogdensburg, New York, will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at Notre Dame Church. A prayer service will be held at 9:30am at the Fox & Murray Funeral Home prior to the funeral mass.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, from 3:00pm to 8:00pm at the funeral home. A Celebration of Life and reception will be held at the Ogdensburg Moose Lodge at 12:00 noon on Wednesday following the funeral and the committal prayers at Foxwood Memorial Mausoleum.

Eddie departed this life on his journey to Heaven Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Crouse Hospital, Syracuse, New York, while tightly holding hands with his daughter by his side.

Eddie is survived by his beloved daughter and light of his life, Ramona A. Breen and her husband Richard Breen, two brothers, Robert Breen and his companion Helen Pierce of Potsdam, Gerald Alkerton and his wife Mabel, three sisters, Sheila Cipriani and June Farrell, both of Ogdensburg and Elaine Spooner and her husband Denny of Watertown and several nieces and nephews. Eddie is also survived by his “chosen daughters” Linda L. L’Orange of Jonestown, PA and Diane Bean of Ogdensburg, a “chosen son” Wayne Oxley of Heuvelton, two very special nieces, Debbie Bracy-DeDekker and Julie (Breen) Madlin of Ogdensburg and his best friend Allan Bell, of Heuvelton, two very special friends, Mike Skelly and John Prosser both of Ogdensburg and special friends Dr. Bob and Anita Sass of Hixson, TN. Eddie is also survived by his beloved dog, Luna, and his seven cats, Ozzy, Simon, Raven, Misty, Midnight, Mercedes and Dexter. Eddie was predeceased by the love of his life and soulmate of 65 years, Mary Margaret (Sargent) Breen, who left this world on her journey to Heaven to meet him 36 hours later on November 9, 2019. He is also predeceased by his parents, John Breen and Lillian (Kiah) Breen, his step-mother Evelyn (Peters) Breen, his brothers, Jack Breen and Ronald Alkerton, his sisters, Virginia Groulx, Mary Lou McNamara and Ann Munro, a very special friend and “chosen daughter”, Ann McDonald LaFave, and all his beloved cats and dogs.

Eddie was born in Ogdensburg, New York, on January 8, 1934, to John F. Breen and Lillian (Kiah) Breen. Anyone who knew Eddie knows what an adventurous and interesting life he enjoyed. After graduating from Ogdensburg Free Academy in 1951, Eddie sailed the Great Lakes as a Merchant Marine. Upon returning to Ogdensburg Eddie worked at Alcoa before going to work on the St. Lawrence Seaway for his uncle, Stanley Breen, who was the business agent for the Teamsters. On the Seaway Eddie became a master Uke driver and remained working on the Seaway until its completion. Eddie then went into the plumbing and heating business and carried on that trade throughout the remainder of his life while still undertaking several other ventures. On June 17, 1961, Eddie married the love of his life, Mary Margaret (Sargent) Breen at Notre Dame Church in Ogdensburg, New York with over 300 people in attendance. In the early 1960’s Eddie bought the property on the corner of State Highways 68 and 37 and built what is now the Dollar General Store. At that location he owned and operated a commercial rabbitry having over 3,500 rabbits. He also raised pigs and ducks in other buildings at that location. In the late 1960’s Eddie purchased the lot near the Tractor Supply Store and built the building that currently houses Agway. He leased it to Millbrook Bread for ten years before selling the property. Eddie also bought the apartment building on the corner of Ford and Park Streets and Eddie and Margaret remodeled the downstairs and opened up Dominic’s Pizzeria. Eddie would work all day at his plumbing and heating and construction business and return home in time to shower and go to work at the restaurant with Margaret till the wee hours of the morning. In the early 1970’s Eddie went into the structural steel building business and became so busy that he sold the restaurant in 1975. During the 1970’s and continuing for over the next three decades Eddie built the large Anchor Motor Freight building on Wellesley Island, Reagan’s Collision, Gardner’s Carpets and Flooring, NAPA Auto Parts, the former Cameron Cleaners, Parkway Agway in Lisbon and many other buildings in the area. In the late 1970’s Eddie purchased property on Cedar Street and designed, engineered and constructed a large steel building and owned and opened Maple City Processors, Inc., a USDA inspected barbequed chicken processing plant there. Eddie and his family drove to Washington, DC several times and on his own got his labels, permits and trademarks all approved. Eddie built and designed all the chicken cookers which were each 32 feet long and every other aspect of that building. He also did everything himself to become USDA certified. In the late 1980’s Eddie opened up a sheet metal fabrication shop and owned and operated that business side by side with his other ventures. He purchased the property on Cedar Street across from the chicken processing plant and owned and operated his sheet metal business at that location until he retired in 2005. Eddie always loved employing people that no one else would give a chance to because he believed everyone learns from their past mistakes and he always saw the good and the untapped potential in everyone. He formed lifelong friendships and bonds with his workers that survived to this day. From 2005 to the present day Eddie helped his daughter in her law office with filing, making copies, putting documents together, comparing descriptions, doing book work, running errands and being the maintenance man and any other hat we asked him to wear.

Eddie’s love of his family and friends and animals was unsurpassed by anyone or anything. He always stood up for justice regardless of whether it was in defense of a person, an animal or a principle. He was an expert cook and made the best spaghetti sauce and meatballs and meatloaf on the planet. Eddie loved the holidays and being with his family and his home was always open to the less fortunate who had nowhere to go on holidays. Eddie will be missed and loved by so many people from every walk of life. His love and kindness and generosity touched so many people and so many lives. The only consolation is that he is now an angel in Heaven and is reunited with the love of his life Mary Margaret and his parents, brothers and sisters and all his beloved pets.

Margaret departed the life on her journey to Heaven to join her husband and soulmate of 65 years on Saturday, November 9, 2019, in her sleep at home.

Margaret is survived by her daughter whom she dedicated her life to, Ramona A. Breen and her husband Richard Breen, cousins Richard Clouthier, Ronald Clouthier, Lawrence Clouthier and Bradley Gill and nieces and nephews. Margaret is also survived by her “chosen daughters” Linda L. L’Orange of Jonestown, PA and Diane Bean of Ogdensburg, “chosen sons” Wayne Oxley of Heuvelton and John Prosser of Ogdensburg and two very special nieces, Debbie Bracy-DeDekker and Julie (Breen) Madlin of Ogdensburg. Margaret is also survived by her beloved dog, Luna, and her seven cats, Ozzy, Simon, Raven, Misty, Midnight, Mercedes and Dexter. Margaret was predeceased by the love of her life, Edward S. Breen, who left the world on his journey to Heaven just 36 hours prior on November 7, 2019. She is also predeceased by her parents, John B. Sargent and Lillian (Clouthier) Sargent, her maternal grandparents, Napoleon and Anna (Robidoux) Clouthier, her paternal grandparents, Henry Sargent and Marie (Bergeron) Sargent, cousins, Mary Ellen Sargent, Lawrence Sargent, Ellen Ann Missert and Betty (Clouthier) Gill who were raised more like sisters and a brother to her, “chosen daughter”, Ann McDonald LaFave, several aunts, uncles and other cousins and all her beloved cats and dogs.

Margaret was born in Pyrites, New York, on December 21, 1927, to John B. Sargent and Lillian (Clouthier) Sargent. After graduating from Ogdensburg Free Academy in 1946, Margaret was all prepared to enter nursing school in Syracuse, however, Margaret’s father became gravely ill and she did not want to leave her father’s side. Margaret stayed in Ogdensburg and attended and graduated from Effie Lou Wallace’s Secretarial and Finishing School for Girls. Margaret began her work as a secretary at the law firm of Attorney William O’Connell, the same law firm that her daughter joined as an attorney many years later. She then worked as a secretary and book keeper for the Personal Finance Company which later became Beneficial Financial. Margaret worked as a secretary for the George Hall Company owned and operated by Frank Augsbury for a number or years. Margaret also served as the executive secretary for the Administrator of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center before leaving to serve as personal secretary to the Executive Director of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority. After her marriage Margaret worked the rest of her career as secretary, book keeper and jack of all trades alongside her husband Eddie in all of his various businesses. In 1998 she began work as a legal secretary for her daughter, Attorney Ramona A. Breen until she suffered a major stroke in November, 2016.

On June 17, 1961, Margaret married the love of her life, Edward S. Breen at Notre Dame Church in Ogdensburg, New York with over 300 people in attendance. Margaret was a published poet and artist, having her poems turned into songs and being published in many different books. She had her own book of poetry, “Along the Way” copy written and created with the help of her dear friend, Linda Hurteau.

Like her husband, Margaret’s love of her family and friends and animals was unsurpassed by anyone or anything. She too always stood up for justice and did the right thing no matter what anyone else thought. Margaret had a very deep faith in God and in her religion which was a very important part of her life. She was fierce in the protection and support of her husband and daughter. Margaret was the neighborhood mom to so many kids and will be missed and loved by so many people from every walk of life. Margaret would say that her greatest achievements in life were being good wife and a good mother and she excelled in both categories. She was an excellent cook and fed so many people over the years. She loved the holidays and Christmas particularly with the lights and tree and being surrounded by her family. Margaret’s love and kindness and generosity touched so many people and so many lives. The only consolation is that she is now an angel in Heaven and is reunited with the love of her life Eddie and her parents and grandparents and all her beloved pets.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in the couple’s name to the Gracious Friends Animal Sanctuary, 8201 State Highway 58, Heuvelton, NY 13654, the St. Lawrence Valley S.P.C.A., 6718 State Highway 68, Ogdensburg, New York 13669 or the Notre Dame Heritage Fund, Ford Avenue, Ogdensburg, New York 13669. Condolences and fond memories can also be shared at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com