Bernadette Theresa Dalton

Bernadette T. Dalton, age 98, born August 20, 1926, of Peru, NY and more recently, the Samuel Vilas Home in Plattsburgh, died on March 18, 2025.

Bernadette was the daughter of John B. and Agnes (Bouvier) Light.

She was the beloved mother of four children who survive her: Glenn Dalton of Albany, NY; Melanie Dalton and her husband Max Hobelsberger of Wurenlingen, Switzerland; Sharon Dalton of Homestead, FL; and Robert and Donna Dalton of Hampstead, NC; and by her grandchildren: Gretchen O’Connell; Rael Cohen; Shaile Cohen Sanchez and her husband Rob Sanchez; Michio Cohen and his wife Megan Cohen; Taylor Dalton; Madison Dalton; Daniel Armstrong; and Kristofer Armstrong and his wife Katherine Grace Murphy; and her great-granddaughter, Violet Brunelle.

Bernadette is also survived by many nieces and nephews to whom she was a favorite aunt, a trusted mentor, a second mom, and friend.

Bernadette was pre-deceased by her parents, her husband Robert G. Dalton, her siblings and their spouses: Mildred and Bowen (Ben) Kirk, Maynard and Lois Light, Anita and Jerome (Jerry) Lemieux, Valeda and William (Bill) Kavanaugh, Yvonne and Andrew (Andy) Herkalo, Napoleon (Nap) and Theresa Light, Andre and Alvina (Honey) Light, Alfred and Ella Light, and Jeanne and Charles (Chuck) Farrington. Bernadette was also predeceased by daughter-in-law Crystal Dalton, sister-in-law Frances Light, brother-in-law Raymond Dwyer, nephew Timothy Dwyer and niece Andrea Light Bouchard.

Bernadette graduated from high school at age 17, and worked at Merkel’s in downtown Plattsburgh. Shortly after graduation, she began working at Metropolitan Insurance and worked there until retirement. She was a communicant of St. Augustine’s Church, a member of the Champlain Valley Oratorio Society, an artist who enjoyed painting, crocheting, quilting, sewing and ceramics. For many years, she maintained her own lawn and perennial gardens.

We will always remember Bernadette’s quick wit and her sense of humor as well as her unfailing courtesy. She was a fiercely independent and stoic woman who lived her life with dignity and determination. Her favorite expressions were “C’est la vie” and “It is what it is.”

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the staff of the Vilas Home for the care and love they gave our mother and our aunt; we appreciate everyone's kindness. We also are grateful to Hospice of the North Country for the compassion and gentleness they brought to Bernadette’s final days.

Calling hours will be Monday, March 24, from 2 PM to 6 PM at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. The funeral will be Tuesday, March 25 at 11:00 AM at St. Augustine’s in Peru. Burial will be in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of the North Country or to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are entrusted to Brown Funeral Home. Online condolences may be offered at www.brownfuneralhomeny.com