Deborah J. Conners

AKWESASNE – Deborah J. (Herne) Conners, 74, of 5 Herne Road, passed away Sunday evening, December 25, 2022 at IAK HIH SOH THA Lodge after a brief illness.

Deborah was born on February 6, 1948, in Hogansburg, the daughter of the late Francis P. and Virginia E. (Hopps) Herne. She attended Mohawk and Salmon River Central School. She was first married to Thomas "Tommy Bear" Terrance and was blessed with a son prior to their divorce. She later married Marshall Oakes and was blessed with four more children before their marriage ending. On July 1, 1989, she married Jeffery L. "Spooner" Conners at Grace United Methodist Church, he predeceased her on September 9, 2009.

Deborah worked for Alcoa for 33 years, working in the pot rooms and various other departments. She was a communicant of St. Regis Mohawk Church and enjoyed cooking, dancing, gambling, shopping, and loved nature. Of all her enjoyments, she cherished the time was able to spend with her family by the water at the Herne family homestead.

Deborah is survived by her children and their spouses, George Terrance (Sabrina), Kyle Oakes, Shirley Oakes (Damon), and Darcie Cree (Brian Murray), all of Akwesasne; her stepdaughter, Chessie (Brendan White); 20 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Shirley Gable (Bill) of Albany and Julie Herne (Jeff) of Massena; her brothers, Bobby Herne (Trudy), David Herne (Diane), Harvey Herne (Janice), Darrell Herne (Stephanie), Richard Herne (Susie), all of Akwesasne; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by a son, Eric Oakes; her grandchildren, Randi Michelle Peters and Travis Terrance; a great grandson, Gavin Dunn Cree; a sister, Cynthia Herne; and a sister-in-law, Hazel Herne.

Burial will be in the spring in St. Joseph's Cemetery.