Barbara J. Spiers

STANFORDVILLE, NY - Barbara J. Spiers passed away suddenly at Sharon Hospital on Saturday, October 30th. She was 81 years old.

Barbara was born the fourth of five children to Perce Lasher and Edythe Gruntler Lasher in Poughkeepsie, NY on November 1st, 1928. She spent her childhood and early adult life in the town of Red Hook, NY, first on her grandfather's fruit farm on Lasher Road in the Hamlet of Nevis and later in her family's home in the Village of Tivoli.

Following her graduation from Tivoli High School, Barbara moved to Manhattan to work for Lord & taylor before returning to Tivoli a short time later. Upon her return, Barbara worked for Western Printing in Poughkeepsie, NY and soon met her future husband, Donald C. Spiers, better known as "Joe" Spiers, who worked as a teacher at Tivoli Union Free School. The two were wed on August 20th, 1950. The newlywed couple then moved to Stanfordville, NY, where Joe had recently been appointed District Principal at Stanford Union Free School District.

During their fifty-four year marriage, Barbara and Joe were active members of their community and made many life-long friendships during their time together in Stanfordville. They raised two sons and went on to play important roles in the lives of their two grandsons. Barbara and Joe shared a home and a life together until Joe's death on April, 17th, 2006.

In the years following her husband's death, Barbara remained socially active, routinely going out with "the girls" and, among other things, making her regular hair appointments and shopping trips. She loved her family very much and was always a good sport when it came to spending time with those who were close to her, whether it meant sleeping on a couch during a family vacation, welcoming a late night visit from her grandsons, or having a long-distance telephone call with her sister.

Barbara will be remembered by those who knew her as a loving sister, mother, grandmother, wife, and friend. Her kindness and company will be missed by all.

Barbara was predeceased by: her husband, Donald C. "Joe " Spiers; her parents, Perce Lasher and Edythe Gruntler Lasher; her brother, James P. Lasher, and his wife, Helen; her sister, Carolyn "Sookie" F. Bard, and her husband, Howard; and her brother, C. William "Bill" Lasher, and his wife, "Betty."

Barbara is survived by: her eldest son, Jeffrey R. Spiers, and his wife, Kathleen, of Stanfordville, NY and their sons, Gregory R. Spiers and Andrew J. "AJ" Spiers, of Brookline, MA; her younger son, James D. Spiers, and his wife, Tanya, of Millbrook, NY; her sister, Linda A. Carly, and her husband, Allen, of Clifton, VA; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation with the family will be held at Peck and Peck Funeral Home in Pine Plains, NY, on Wednesday, November 3rd, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and again from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Funeral services will be held at Peck and Peck Funeral Home on Thursday, November 4th, at 11:00am, with interment following at the Red Church cemetery in Tivoli, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Barbara's memory to the Evangelical Free Church Senior Citizens Community Luncheon Program, P.O. Box 157, Clinton Corners, NY, 12514. Barbara enjoyed many luncheons there with her good friends Eileen, Kay, and Rene.

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