April 4, 2014              

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Cora H. Bura, 98, of Jewell Drive, and formerly of Myrtle Avenue, and widow of Charles Bura, passed away Friday, April 4, at her residence.

The funeral will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at Reed & Benoit Funeral Home with Rev. Leon “Toby” Schilling officiating. Burial will be later in the spring in Brookside Cemetery. A calling hour will precede the funeral beginning at 1 p.m.

Born June 2, 1915, the fourth child of John and Lillian North Hughes, she was a 1933 graduate of Watertown High School and a 1939 graduate of Oswego Normal School, now called Oswego State. Cora studied graduate courses at St. Lawrence University, Syracuse University and Potsdam College.  

Cora taught three years in rural schools, including a one-room schoolhouse in Chaumont. She later taught first grade at General Brown in the Glen Park Building for 30 years, retiring in 1975.

She married Charles Bura on De. 8, 1945, at the First Baptist Church. Mr. Bura, a retired NY Central Railroad / Conrail dispatcher, died April 25, 2008.

Mrs. Bura was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Brownville Teachers Association, NYSTA, NYSRTA, AARP, and a former member of the Rebekah’s. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bura enjoyed summers at their Knobby Knoll cottage on Lake Ontario and traveled extensively in the U.S. and abroad.

Mrs. Bura was the beloved aunt to nieces and spouses, Mary Bura (Joseph) DiMasi, Boston, Mass., Mary Hughes (Lawrence) Carpenter, East Syracuse, Jacqueline Bura (Jonas) Dahlen, Downington, Pa., Constance Hughes (Harold) Willis, Largo, Fla., Kim Bura (Christopher) Bennett, Dexter, Cherry (Albert) Edwards, Kansas, Rosalyn (Steven) Hunyadi, Fla., Dale (Floyd) Townsend, KY; nephews, James Bura, Texas, Richard Bura, Watertown; nephews and spouses, Clifford (Paulette) Bennett, Dexter, Kenneth (Suzanne) Bennett, Chaumont;  George (Donna) Bura, Jr., CA, and William (Joanne) Bura, Felts Mills.  

She is also survived by her devoted caregivers, affectionately known as ‘Team Cora’: Mary LaSage, Dexter, Stephanie Lloyd, Watertown, Jody Thomas, Dexter, Samantha Kirch, Watertown, Lydia Lloyd, Philadelphia, Anne Bullard, Dexter, and Macayla Curtis, Dexter .

She was predeceased by her siblings:  Florence Hardy, Elizabeth Strauch, John Hughes, Lawrence Hughes, Grace Bennett, Harold Hughes and Albert Hughes, who died in infancy.

Contributions may be made to the Cora Bura Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o General Brown Central School, PO Box 500, Dexter, NY  13634, or to a charity of one’s choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.reedbenoit.com.