Elinor Joan (Kerr) Leffert(Submitted by Funeral Home)
STAR LAKE, New York (WWNY) – Elinor Joan (Kerr) Leffert, 96, died peacefully at her home on July 3, 2026, in the company of her children.
Elinor was born on October 31, 1929, in Star Lake, NY, to Ralph Waldo Kerr and Monica Calla (Hickey) Kerr. She had two sisters, Elsie (Kerr) Chatelain of Liverpool, NY, and Betty (deceased) Kerr; and three brothers, Dale Kerr (deceased) of Wolcott, NY, William Kerr of Oswegatchie, NY, and Drew (Marylou) Kerr of Wooster, Ohio. After attending high school at the Oswegatchie Union Free School in Star Lake, NY, Elinor went to work in New York City for PanAm Airlines. She returned home in 1949 to meet the love of her life, John J. Leffert, while he was working on a job in Star Lake, NY, as a lineman for the NY Telephone Co. They were married on January 7, 1950.
They lived in Rome, NY, for 38 years, where they raised seven children, before moving to Star Lake, NY, in 1987. Elinor and John had five daughters and two sons: Roberta J. (Daniel, deceased) Szewczyk of Star Lake, NY; Christine A. and Dennis M. Murray of Gloucester, VA; Jacquelynn D. and Steven K. Flanders of Bridgeport, NY; Thea L. and David C. Joseph of Rome, NY; Mary M. and John P. Fanelli of Barneveld, NY; John D. and Cynthia J. (Kurz) Leffert of Rome, NY; and Kyle R. (deceased) (Vanessa A. Luttrell) Leffert of Northville, MI. She had 18 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
After raising seven children, Elinor went back to work part-time for a short while at JCPenney and OTB in Rome, NY, and was a volunteer at the Rome Memorial Hospital Twigs volunteer organization. Upon moving back to Star Lake with her husband, John, in 1987, Elinor became very active with St. Hubert’s Church as a church school teacher, as a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus, and as an active craft sponsor for the church’s yearly “Christmas Bazaar”. She also was in charge for many years of the flowers, signs, flags, and the eagles throughout the town by overseeing a flower fund started with the Clifton-Fine Economic Development Corp. She loved painting, ceramics, golfing, cross-country skiing, knitting, gardening, and making huge blueberry pancakes and homemade pies for her family and friends. To this day, she made sure her family helped take care of the two Star Lake Welcome Signs throughout the year.
In her earlier years, she was always looking for adventure and excitement. Her biggest thrill was learning to fly her father’s Cessna floatplane at the age of 17. She loved every moment while flying the “friendly skies”. She would smile as she told us
stories of how the town thought she was a true daredevil in the air, by the many mid-air aerial maneuvers she would perform while flying!
Focus on family and friends was her greatest interest in life, though. She was always supportive and encouraging of all around her. Her kindness, compassion, and zest for life will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Hubert’s Church in Star Lake, NY, on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. A graveside service will follow on Friday, July 17, 2026, at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Rome, NY, at 11:00 a.m. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Hubert’s Church and the Star Lake Rescue Squad. A special thanks to Edie and Erica of St. Lawrence Valley Hospice.
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