Alicia Edenfield
In Memory of
Alicia Anne
Edenfield (Durkee)
1955 - 2017
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Fortune - Keough Funeral Home
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Obituary for Alicia Anne Edenfield (Durkee)

Alicia Anne Durkee Edenfield of Saranac Lake NY was given the name of Berniece O’Gara when she was born in Buffalo, NY on November 23, 1955. On June 23, 1958, she was adopted into the Durkee family of Orchard Park, NY and became the cherished daughter of A. David and Florence M. Durkee. Alicia passed away on August 27, 2017 after being diagnosed with mucinous adenocarcinoma. Her strong faith gave her peace and the love of her family was by her side.

Alicia was very active in Girl Scouts, the marching band and sports throughout high school at Penn Yan Academy and in 1972, was awarded the Gannett Rochester Youth Cares Award for her volunteer activities with children who had physical and mental challenges. Majoring in Special Education, Alicia attended Western State College of Gunnison Colorado and while living out West, she enjoyed backcountry cross-country skiing, touring with the band, 3.2 beer, and was a trained member of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Team. She transferred to Plattsburgh State University and graduated with her B.S. in Special Education in 1977.

In Plattsburgh, Alicia met her soul mate, W. Ben Edenfield, and they married in 1978. Before moving to Saranac Lake, Alicia taught Special Ed. for the Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School and Champlain Valley Educational Services. In Saranac Lake, she worked for The Adirondack ARC for eighteen years before returning to school and securing her Associate Degree in Registered Nursing from NCCC in 2005. For the past ten years, she worked part time as the tutor for NCCC’s Nursing Program. Her passions included those times spent with family, antiquing with Ben, cultivating her poppies every spring, knitting and working with the students at the college. She especially enjoyed the peace and serenity of sharing sunsets with Ben on Bahia Honda, Key West, and on the quiet coves of Lower Saranac Lake where the dragonflies she loved, would come to say ‘Hello.’

After having to abandon the goal of moving to Asheville, NC someday, Alicia and Ben set out on her bucket list adventure. With a group of twenty one friends and family, they spent a week in Asheville participating in the Asheville Community Drum Circle, visit to the Biltmore, touring the arts districts, microbreweries, and taking in all the area has to offer. The support and loved she received, the memories revisited and the laughter shared created memories that she was eternally grateful for.

Alicia is survived by Ben, her husband of 29 years, her two beloved sons, Colin Francis Edenfield of Denver, CO (partner Amber Dawson and her daughter Samantha), and Patrick Benjamin Edenfield of Raleigh, NC. In addition, she leaves one amazing granddaughter, Charlotte Paige Edenfield of Denver, one incredible brother, David G. Durkee of Penn Yan, NY, cousins who provided her with a lifetime of wonderful memories, two nieces and four nephews. Her parents and one sister, Maureen, predeceased her.

At Alicia’s request, there will be no calling hours and following cremation, private family services will be arranged. For those who wish to remember Alicia, donations may be made to the Tri-Lakes Humane Society. Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake.


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