BEACON - Donald A. Ferland, a resident of Beacon since 2010 and formerly of Cartersville, GA, and Hopewell Junction, died suddenly at home on February 1, 2017. He was 81.
Son of the late Emile A. and Sybil M. (Baird) Ferland, he was born in East Albany, VT on August 6, 1935. Donald attended local schools, including the one room schoolhouse in Hopewell Junction and Wappingers Central High School. In 1958, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and proudly served our Nation abroad until he was honorably discharged in 1964.
He was a home builder for many years, and then went to work for the Town of East Fishkill Highway Department for 15 years. He retired as a foreman in 1992.
Donald was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. Additionally, he reveled in woodworking and cooking. He loved traveling, especially visits to Saranac Lake, and during his lifetime, he accomplished visiting 48 states including Alaska where he toured for one entire summer. He was a former member of St. Columba Church in Hopewell Junction, the East Fishkill Fire Department, Whortlekill Rod & Gun Club. Above all else, he cherished spending time with his family, most especially his grandchildren & great-grandchildren.
On November 1, 1958, he married Mary P. Welch at St. Denis Church in Hopewell Junction.
Mary survives at home in Beacon. Donald is also survived by his daughter, Donna A. Goodall & her husband Andy of Beacon; his son-in-law, Douglas DeLise of Florida; his grandchildren, Andrew John Goodall & his wife Carianne, Derrick DeLise, Melanie Dina & her husband Matt, and D.J. Goodall; his great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Zachary, and Graeme; his brothers, Howard Ferland & his wife Priscilla and Fred Ferland; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Noreen Ferland, Charlie & Eileen Welch, and Dave Kyriazis; his father-in-law, Robert Moore & his wife Janet; also many nieces, nephews, and other relatives & friends.
Donald was predeceased by his parents; his loving daughter, Patricia DeLise; his brother & best friend, Richard Ferland; his brothers-in-law, John P. Welch and Thomas F. Welch; and his sister-in-law, Cindy J. Kyriazis.
Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, February 3rd at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 4th at the funeral home, followed by interment at St. Joachim Cemetery in Beacon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675, www.woundedwarriorproject.org; or the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, www.stjude.org.
For directions and online tributes, you can visit Donald's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.