Obituary of Daniel P. Jory

ILION - Daniel P. Jory, age 62, of Ilion, NY, passed on to the next life on December 5, 2018 at his home.  At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by the love, faith, and support of his family.

He was born on July 4, 1956 in Utica, New York, the son of Margaret Mason Jory and the late Donald P. Jory.  Dan was raised in Utica.  He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School from kindergarten to grade 8, and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1974.  He went on to attend Monroe Community College for two years.

Following his schooling, Dan travelled to California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Florida.  He lived in many ski resorts, skiing during the day and working and learning the restaurant business at night.  In 1979, he rode up the Alcan Highway with three friends and began a thirty-eight year commercial fishing career in Kodiak and Cordova, Alaska.  During the off-season, he returned to Utica and worked in local ski shops and enjoyed the lift tickets bonus for many years.

Dan was a caring, loving, energetic husband and father.  He was a hard worker and always helped others.  Dan loved downhill, telemarking, and cross-country skiing.  He was a racer.  He loved the outdoors and his passion was fishing in Alaska.

He was diagnosed in 2006 with stage 4 prostate cancer and told he would live only one year.  He continued to fish on his boat during fishing season in Alaska for nine more years and worked in local ski shops in New York during the off-season.  He took six trips to Europe in eight years visiting Ireland, England, Portugal, France, and twice to Spain. He felt blessed to live twelve and one half years after diagnosis.

Surviving Dan are his wife, Karen, his daughter, Brittney, his mother, Margaret Jory, sisters Kathy (Thomas) Byrnes of Georgia, Maureen (Alan) Cronauer of Utica, brothers Tom (Cheryl) Jory of Schenevus, and John Jory of Utica.  He also leaves several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends locally, on the west coast, and in Alaska.  Dan was a member of the Annunciation Church in Ilion.

The family would like to extend sincere gratitude to Dr. Marcy Canary, the oncology nurses - Arlene, Michele, and Kriss – and staff at Bassett Healthcare, Herkimer, and Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, for their exceptional skill, care, empathy, and support.  Appreciation is also extended to Dr. Mary-Ellen Taplin of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects at calling hours on Sunday, December 9, 2018 from 2:00PM - 5:00PM at the Enea & Ciaccia Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Road (Town of Frankfort) Ilion, NY.  315-894-8000.  Dan's funeral service will commence on Monday morning, December 10, 2018 at 9:45AM at the funeral home and at 10:30AM at Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church in Frankfort, where Dan's Mass of Christian Burial will be offered by Rev. Paul Catena, Pastor. Procession will follow to the Litchfield Cemetery, Town of Litchfield, where he will be laid to rest.  

Donations in Dan’s memory can be made to the American Cancer Society, Hospice, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.  

Funeral and burial arrangements have been entrusted to Harry J. and Kevin E. Enea and Martin L. Ciaccia, Funeral Directors.  An online note of sympathy may be delivered by visiting www.eneafamily.com.