Hamilton Funeral Home

03/05/2026

In loving memory of Paul Blier.

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03/05/2026

Funeral service for Charlie Zavatsky.

03/04/2026

In loving memory of David Johnson.

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03/04/2026

In loving memory of "Mrs. K"

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03/02/2026

In loving memory of Beth Lloyd.

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03/02/2026

In loving memory of Tom Sweeney.

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02/27/2026

Bill brought comfort to many at their darkest times, during the 13 years he worked at Hamilton Funeral Home. Our family was blessed to have had Bill by our side for all of those years.

A lot can be said about the New York State prison strike of 2025 — whether it accomplished its goals, whether it was worth it, and how it will be remembered in the long run.

But to one man, none of that mattered.

Retired Lieutenant William Joseph “Bill” Fornecker had one final wish: to visit the men and women standing on the strike line at Clinton Correctional Facility.

At 75 years old, with his health failing, Bill didn’t ask for comfort, recognition, or rest. He asked to stand beside the officers. To look them in the eye. To show them that they were seen, respected, and not alone.

Bill began his career with the New York State Department of Corrections in 1974. For 30 years, he served with pride and distinction, retiring as a lieutenant from Clinton in December of 2004 — a career he never stopped caring about. The uniform came off, but the sense of duty never did.

That moment on the strike line wasn’t about contracts or politics. It was about brotherhood. About solidarity. About a man who spent his life behind the walls, choosing to spend one of his final moments standing for the people who still do.

Bill Fornecker passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at his home in Peru, under the loving care of his family and Hospice of the North Country.

Long after the debates fade, this will remain — a quiet, powerful reminder of what this job has always been about: loyalty, respect, and taking care of your own.

Rest easy, Lieutenant. Your watch is over, but your example won’t be forgotten.

02/27/2026

In loving memory of Elmer "Butch" Rock.

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02/27/2026

In loving memory of Lisa Arnold Guay.

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02/26/2026

In loving memory of Joyce Lucia-Kolb.

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02/25/2026

In loving memory of Joyce Barton.

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02/25/2026

In loving memory of Charlie Zavatsky.

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