Nilah A. (Belair) West passed peacefully on June 12th with her husband and children by her side. She was born Oct. 7, 1936 to Ernest and Mildred (Snow) Belair, originally from Farnham, QC. Nilah spent her young life on Boynton Avenue, Plattsburgh, and Summers caring for extended family in Farnham. She graduated from the D’Youville Academy in 1954 and attended Our Lady of Victory Academy.

She was working at S.S. Kresge when she met Richard West, who says “I found my million-dollar baby at a 5 and 10 cent store!” They were married in 1957 and Nilah moved to the wilderness of Chazy.

Together Nilah and Richard were amazing parents to four children. She is survived by her husband Richard, her children Jill (Kevin) Beeman, Laurie (Stephen) Miller, Todd (Judy Edge), and James (Rebecca Boire), 8 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren (with 2 more expected this summer), and many others in the US and Canada.

In addition to supporting her husband and raising her children Nilah had a lifetime of volunteering in the Chazy community including a docent at the Alice T. Miner Museum, the CCRS Alumni Association, teaching religious education, making costumes for the Chazy Music Theater, singing in the choir at Sacred Heart Church, and many others. She deservedly was Queen of Chazy Old Home Day in 2005, was well known for her chocolate chip cookies, and was proud of her Canadian heritage.

She lovingly cared for her mother Mildred during her illness in 1982.

She is predeceased by her brother Andre (Mike) Belair, her sister Patricia Grey, son in-law Stephen Miller, and sister in-law Shirley (Ryan) Belair.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 11:00am at Sacred Heart Church in Chazy. Burial will follow in the Parish Cemetery.

You may share a photo, story, or condolence with the family by visiting www.rwwalkerfh.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted into the care of the R.W. Walker Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 69 Court Street, Plattsburgh, NY.