Joanne M. Jones-Russell
Joanne M. Jones-Russell (LaFave), 88, passed away April 18, 2026 surrounded by family after courageously battling cancer. She was a lifelong resident of Tupper Lake, firstborn of three girls to Leo and Florence (Ayotte) LaFave on June 29, 1937. Although she spent many years of her life in Central Square, N.Y., Tupper Lake was always “home.”
Joanne held dear her love for music which began as a little girl who harmonized and played the piano and guitar with her sisters, Colleen and Carol. The height of family gatherings, for the adults and children alike, included members from the LaFave, Reandeau, and Jones families playing various instruments while harmonizing favorite songs, a tradition which continues at reunions to this day. She reveled in singing in the church choir later in life. Her heart was made full whenever she listened to classic country, bluegrass, and gospel music.
Joanne’s most cherished part of life was her family. Her heart was filled with joy in their presence, especially the little ones. She thrived off welcoming guests to her home and delighted in her time with them swimming, boating, and fishing in the Raquette River. She enjoyed cooking and camping, and was unmatched when it came to doing it outdoors. She displayed this prowess on every adventure, cooking up meals like venison or roasted chicken over an outdoor fire, even in the middle of winter. Her passion was making guests feel welcome, and she did so with a generous heart and warm smile.
As a child, Joanne attended Holy Ghost Academy. After graduating from Tupper Lake High School in 1955, Joanne married her high school sweetheart, Eugene C. Jones. Together they enjoyed raising six children while camping, fishing, cooking, canning, and gardening.. They treasured their small farm with chickens, pigs, a pony, and a goat. She and Eugene enjoyed time together at the Tupper Lake Moose Club and VFW while Eugene played with local musicians there. They remained married for 49 years until Eugene’s passing.
After attending business school early on in Syracuse, NY, she was employed in the secretarial field in various places of business throughout her life. In her over 25 years of service working for the state of New York, Joanne’s occupations included secretary to the principal at Paul V. Moore High School in Central Square, secretary to the director of the Theatre Department at SUNY College at Oswego, and secretary to the Superintendent at Adirondack Correctional Facility, before finally retiring from Camp Gabriels Correctional Facility in 1999.
In 2005, Joanne was remarried to Robert “Budd” Russell. Their favorite pastime was dancing at local venues, and they were the “talk of the town” out on the dance floor. In later years, they enjoyed watching Raquette River roll by from their swing as they gazed out at Budd’s famous flowers, which added to the ambience of the beautiful Tupper Lake scenery.
Joanne is survived by her children, Timothy Jones (Cato), John (Donna) Jones (Parish), James Jones (Tupper Lake), Anne (Andrew) Michaelis (Mexico), and Catherine (Mark) Roberts (Central Square); her grandchildren, Jessica Jones (Richlands, NC), LeAnn Jones (Greensboro, NC), Shane (Jessica) Jones (Brewerton), Matthew (Andria) Jones (Brewerton), Ashley (Joe) Nadeau (Parish), Christopher Jones (Parish), Jeremy Barnes (Brewerton), Kristie (Nick) Hancock (Watertown), Mitchell (Bethany) Jones (Tupper Lake), Shannon Michaelis (Mexico), Erica (Andrew) Witherell (Cicero), and Michael (Woobin) Gaff (North Syracuse); and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Eugene Jones and Robert “Budd” Russell; her oldest son, David (Colleen) Jones; her parents, Leo and Florence LaFave; and her sisters, Colleen O’Hara and Carol Fleming/McGuire.
Friends and family are encouraged to share their memories of Joanne at the Frary Funeral Home website, www.fraryfuneralhome.com.