The family and friends of Annette Lyon are saddened today, by her sudden passing on Monday, October 27th 2008. To say Annette was a special person is too small. The canvas that created her life, was full of color, softness and heart. Her understated presence and warmth was powerful, validating everyone she touched. Lighting up any room she could walk into, Annette rarely left a conversation without the recipient of her words feeling better for it. She was born to the late Philomena “Phyllis” Trisolini LeGere on May 24th, 1948 and raised in the Dolgeville, New York area seldom venturing outside it’s comforting boundaries. In Annette’s childhood she was privileged to spend many great times with two very special people, Harry and Elizabeth Nickerson. She attended school in Dolgeville, graduating with the class of 1966. She married a local boy, Bruce Lyon – who is currently serving as Dolgeville’s mayor, and enjoyed a loving and devoted union that last for over 40 years. They have three sons, Michael in New York City, Christian in Los Angeles, California and Matthew (Rebecca Hearn) in Dolgeville and two precious grandchildren; Seth and Gianna. In addition to being a nurturing daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Annette was a dedicated and hard worker. Her career varied, working as a banquet waitress at the General Herkimer Hotel and then taking a position as a bank teller at the Dolgeville branch of Herkimer County Trust Co. For 20 years, Annette worked as a waitress at Arthur's Restaurant in Dolgeville, then at Kati's Restaurant also in Dolgeville. For the last two years, Annette found what she considered the best job and “Boss” she had ever had, serving at her son Matthew's coffee bar, ‘Simply Grounds.’ She loved her steady stream of regulars whose stories she had wrapped tightly in her heart. Some she knew for years, others became new friends. She enjoyed creating fancy drinks and would always have a story to tell the patron about someone else who also enjoyed that particular drink or how much she too liked that flavor. One of the great things about working at the coffee bar was the hours were manageable enough for her to have time to spend caring for her beloved granddaughter, Gianna – one of her greatest sources of joy. Annette possessed an intense love of family. Family was her life force and center. Their interests were her interests. This extended to her unwavering support of her husband Bruce’s vast interests; professional and political. Her passion for family, food and gardening was steeped in traditions that had been handed down for generations. This played itself out in how she attended to the cooking of a meal and to the foods she grew in her garden to make that meal. Whenever a family member was ill, she was always prepared with a pot of homemade chicken soup. Sunday dinners at the house were a major event. When her mother Phyllis was alive, the two of them would cook together sharing the precious intimacies of old Italian family tradition and bonding in a way that added richness to her life. Annette made every holiday very special with a menu steeped in the importance of carrying on these family traditions. Although she was modest about her cooking abilities, her family always amazed and appreciated her skill in the kitchen and the love she put into the meals she prepared. Annette’s character spoke volumes about who she was and how she lived. She never passed judgment on her children. When they were in trouble, her first thought was, ‘how can I help?’ This assistance was many times in the form of quiet support, but often cooking was involved. Annette loved the beach and lit up when in the presence of the ocean. Whenever possible, many family vacations revolved around going to the ocean. She developed a liking for crossword puzzles later in her life, often doing them on the phone with her brother Skip. In addition, she also loved to press her luck at the Turning Stone Casino. During the last year of Annette’s life she was given extraordinary challenges to face. The first and most difficult; the cancer diagnosis of her brother, Tony (Skip) Legere in May. You could say Annette grew up is Skip’s pocket. He looked after her and was completely devoted to her. They shared a special relationship and knew more about one another than most anyone on the planet. The last six months, Annette played a major role in driving to Albany on a regular basis to care for her brother. She faced his illness with courage, compassion, humor and with an inspiring fierceness of loyalty. She found out things about herself she didn’t know she possessed… good things, strong things. She was part of a community both in Dolgeville and Albany where she was more than highly regarded – she was treasured. Annette was an extraordinary individual who never knew her own power or impact and would be shocked at the vastness of the space her passing has left behind. Beyond her family and friends, she leaves behind a grief stricken community who will feel her loss now and for years to come. She is also survived by, her brother’s son, Rocco Tobin-Legere, many other nieces and nephews, cousins and relatives who thought the world of her. Calling hours are from 5-8pm on Thursday October 30th at Roberts & Enea Family Funeral Home - East Faville Ave.Dolgeville. The Funeral will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Friday ,October 31st at 9:30am. There will be a gathering at the family home immediately following the funeral service - 36 West State Street, Dolgeville. Memorials in Annette’s name may be made to a college education fund in her granddaughter Gianna’s name. Envelopes will be made available at the funeral home.