Lillian Alger

Lillian Dragon Shelters Alger passed away on December 17, 2021, in Sidney, New York. She was born on February 20, 1923, to Richard and Mettie (Guyette) Dragon. After graduation from Altona Central School and Plattsburgh Business Institute (PBI), she moved to Schenectady and worked for General Electric until her marriage to Daniel Shelters (from West Chazy) in 1944. After he returned from being in the army during WW II, they moved back to Plattsburgh. In 1973, she married Richard Alger (from Mooers) and after her retirement from Ayerst Laboratories in 1978 spent 11 winters in Lakeland, Florida until his death in 1998. In 2009, Lillian moved to Sidney, New York to be closer to her daughter.
She is survived by her daughter, Diana (John) Torta from Bainbridge, her son, Dennis (Donna) Shelters of North Charleston, South Carolina, stepdaughter, Charlene (Walter) King of Plattsburgh, stepsons, Wayne (Cindy) Alger of Schenectady, James (Martha) Alger of Peru, daughter-in-law, Carol Alger of Scotia, foster daughter, Ann (Carl) Smith of Morrisonville, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren and a great, great grandchild. She is preceded in death by brothers (Millard, Russell, Elrick and Hillard), sisters (Ruth Garrand and Ruby Matott), stepson (Jerry Alger), and sister-in-laws, (Vera, Evelyn, Rita, and Priscilla Dragon, Alberta Nolette, and Hazel Dickson).
During her lifetime, Lillian actively volunteered her time with: Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Reading Buddy, Hospice, Job Corp, Red Cross, Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Battle of Plattsburgh, and knitting baby caps for CVPH Nursery. In 2005, she was awarded the President’s gold pin for volunteering more than 500 hours in one year. She also belonged the senior citizens at the American Legion in Mooers and was past president of the VFW Auxiliary in Plattsburgh where she was a member for 64 years. She very involved at the Saint Louis Catholic Church in Sciota and Saint Alexander’s Church in Morrisonville. Lillian continued to be active when she moved to Sidney and was an enthusiastic member of the Sacred Heart Church, on the Board of Directors of the United Way, knitted caps and scarfs for students and babies, knitted lap robes for wheelchair veterans at the Oxford Veterans Nursing Home, and was an officer of the Sidney Senior Village Association. In 2018 Lillian was awarded Community Pride Award for her outstanding commitment to the Tri-Town area and in 2021 she was named the First Lady of the Year by the Beta Sigma Phi International for her community service.
There will be no public calling hours. A Mass at 10:30 will be celebrated on December 28 (Tuesday) at Holy Angels Parish in Altona. A memorial service and burial will be held in the Spring.
Instead of flowers, the family request donations to be sent to Hospice, 358 Tom Miller Road, Plattsburgh, New York 12901 or to Helios Care, 297 River Street, Service Road, Oneonta, New York 13820 in her name.