DEXTER, NY — Emily D. Queior, 91, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2026 at Samaritan Medical Center, surrounded by her loved ones.

Emily was born on February 20, 1935, in Watertown, NY, the daughter of Kenneth and Della (Blondin) Dodds. She married Leo Queior on May 6, 1955, at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church. The couple resided in Watertown until moving to Black River in 1965.

Emily began her nursing career in 1960 as a Nursing Assistant in the Emergency Department at the House of the Good Samaritan. In 1971, she earned her Degree from Jefferson Community College and became a New York State Registered Nurse. She furthered her education in infectious diseases and in1976, she led the development and implementation of the hospital’s first Infection Control Program, establishing policies and procedures that became critical to patient care and safety. From 1992 until her retirement, she served as an Infection Control Practitioner, administering programs for 262 acute care facilities. She also provided critical education and consultative services to community agencies on OSHA blood borne pathogen standards, AIDS education, and New York State confidentiality laws.

In May 1993, Emily served as a medical consultant and lecturer in the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, visiting hospitals in Prague and Martin on behalf of Citizens for Democracy and the Voluntary Hospitals of America—an international effort to support the advancement of healthcare systems abroad.

Throughout her distinguished career, Emily received numerous honors and accolades for her service and humanitarian contributions, including, American Red Cross Citation for Exceptional Volunteer Service (1990) for her AIDS education program, the Loretta Landauer Memorial Humanitarian Award (1993), Nurse of Distinction Award (1995) from the New York State Legislature, and Recognition from Harvard Medical School’s Channing Laboratory and Brigham and Women’s Hospital for 30 years of participation in the Nurses’ Health Study, as well as multiple certificates acknowledging her dedication to infection control and public health education during the early years of the AIDS epidemic

Emily is survived by her children, Peter (Linda) Queior of Dexter, NY, Timothy (Tammy) Queior of Dexter, NY, Susan Cash of Dexter, NY, Elizabeth Strife of Memphis, NY, and Lynn Cross of Cicero, NY. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren (with a 17th due to arrive on the 4th of July), her brother Robert Dodds of Palm Springs, CA, and niece Kimberly Keran of Scottsdale AZ.

She was predeceased by her husband Leo R. Queior, her infant son Paul Queior, grandson Timothy Queior, great grandson Timothy Daniel Queior, and son in law James Strife.

Calling hours will be held 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sunday, May 31st at Hart Bruce Funeral Home in Watertown.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Catholic Church in Watertown on Monday, June 1st at 10:00am. Burial will take place at Black River Cemetery immediately following the church service.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Josephs House, 802 Court Street, Syracuse, NY 13208. Online condolences may be left at www.hartandbrucefh.com.

Emily will be remembered as a woman of fierce dedication and loving grace—someone whose life made the world a better, safer, and more compassionate place.