CANTON, NY - Helen Vianna Fowler Phalen, 101, formerly of Partridge Knoll, Canton died Monday, December 21, 2009 at the Highland Nursing Home, Massena where she was a resident since November 23rd. A Requiem Mass will be held on Saturday, December 26th at the Grace Episcopal Church, Main Street, Canton at 12 Noon with Mother Evette Austin as celebrant. Calling hours will be held Saturday morning, 10:30 to 11:30 AM at the Lawrence Funeral Home, Canton. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Norwood in the spring.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Episcopal Church Building Fund 9 E. Main Street, Canton, New York 13617

Among her survivors are her granddaughters, Elizabeth “Betsy” Klein of Norwood, Susan Holland and husband James of Thomasville, GA and Emily Lynch of Framingham, Mass; three step-grandchildren, Gerald E. Patterson and wife Elizabeth of Potsdam, Ian Patterson of Peru, NY and Kevin Patterson of San Francisco, CA; a daughter-in-law, Laura Patterson of Norwood; seven great-grandchildren, Stacy Klein of Alexandria, VA, Jennifer Lynch of Framingham, Mass, Isiah Patterson of Potsdam, Xavier Patterson of Potsdam, “Jamie” Holland of Thomasville, GA, Christopher Holland of Thomasville, GA and Colleen Holland of Soundbeach, Long Island, NY; a niece, Julie Moschola of Clifton, CO and a nephew, Peter Phalen of Watertown, NY. Predeceasing is a son Dean, who died in 1966.

Born May 23, 1908, in Henderson, NY she was the daughter of John H. and Anita Sophia (Shearer) Fowler, she graduated Watertown High School in 1925. On April 19, 1926, she married Merrill Thomas Phalen at the Church of the Redeemer in Watertown with Rev. Wm. Courage as celebrant. Mr. Phalen died November 8, 1969. During World War II, Mrs. Phalen and her husband ran the Hotel Harrington in Canton Mrs. Phalen was a Republican Election Commissioner for St. Lawrence County for 22 years, where she served as president of the Election Commissioners Association of the State of New York when she retired.

In 1990, Mrs. Phalen was cited the Outstanding Commissioner of the State of New York. She had previously been Assistant Deputy Sheriff under Sheriffs Henry Denner, Ceylon “Lefty” Allen and Keith Knowlton. She served as Chairman of the Canton Town Republican Party and was honored as being the first recipient of the Betsy Kaplan Award in 2004 for service to voters of St. Lawrence County.

Mrs. Phalen was a member of the Grace Episcopal Church and had served on the vestry and a clerk of the board, also serving on the Diocesan Board of Albany and as a delegate to Triennial and Provincial Conferences. She was a member of organizations including Canton Garden Club, Potsdam Area Zonta Club, and the Duplicate Bridge Club of Canton. She was considered a “Master” Bridge Player. Mrs. Phalen enjoyed her flower and vegetable gardens, traveling whether home or abroad and reading, going to the library and spending time at her camp at the St. Lawrence River in Red Mills, NY.

Condolences may be sent online to www.lawrencefuneralhome.org