Brian Joseph Carney

Brian J Carney, 78, formerly of Ilion, NY, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at Hope Hospice, Cape Coral, FL, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He leaves behind his wife, Betty J. Carney; his children, Jill St. Pierre of Morrisville, NY; Robert and Carol Carney of Ilion, NY; Sheila Carney and George Nowack of Utica, NY; his stepchildren, Jodi and Dean Oakley of Collierville, TN; and Michael and Melissa Denison of Lantana, TX. He was a beloved grandpa to his five grandchildren, Jason St. Pierre, Elizabeth (Justin) Reed, Justin Carney and fiancé Michelle Maruyama, Emily Denison and Dayna Oakley. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Richard Holland and wife, Susan, and son, Michael of Plantation, FL. He will also be missed by his many close friends. He was predeceased by his first wife of 39 years, Judy Carney (nee Holland.) Born in Ilion, N.Y., the son of Alfred and Ellen (Watson) Carney, he made his home in Ilion until 1994, when he moved to Florida, where he has been a resident of Cape Coral for 15 years. After graduating from Ilion High School in 1956, he enlisted in the Navy, serving as a Petty Officer. After his honorable discharge in 1960, he became a firefighter for the Ilion Fire Department. He remained with the Department throughout his long and distinguished career, eventually being named Fire Chief, and later retiring in 1993. Brian had a zest for life. He was a jack of all trades, and loved fishing and hunting, and anything to do with the outdoors. He was a skilled woodworker, and enjoyed making keepsakes for all his family and friends. Jewelry boxes and wine cork trivets are just a couple of the items that will long be cherished. He loved to travel, and always took the opportunity to explore. From Ireland to Hawaii, Normandy to Costa Rica, there wasn’t a place that didn’t interest him. He and his wife, Betty, made the most of their retirement, traveling to places on their bucket list. He was an active member of the VFW, the American Legion, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the American Veterans, and the Cop Shop. He sincerely enjoyed the friendship and comradery of the patrons of these associations. He will forever be remembered as the man in the white hat. “Too late we came, too soon we must depart.” A memorial service will be held at the VFW, Post 8463, 4709 SE 11th Place, Cape Coral FL, on Monday, July 10th, at 2PM. Please consider donations in Brian’s memory to Hope Hospice, 2430 Diplomat Pkwy, Cape, Coral, FL 33909, or the VFW Post 8463, 4709 SE 11th Place, Cape Coral FL 33904. Arrangements have been entrusted to National Cremation & Burial Society.