Stella Slater

ANCRAM - Stella Jean Slater, 66, of Poole Hill Road, Ancram passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side, Wednesday, January 27, 2016.

She was born December 1, 1949 in Amenia, a daughter of the late Homer and Helen (Pelkey) Miller.

Stella was a graduate of Pine Plains High School and attended Marist College and the State University of New York at Cobleskill. For more than 34 years she was a facilities coordinator at Decker's Laundry in Lakeville, CT. She later worked as facilities coordinator for the Long Lake housing development in Ancramdale. Most recently she was employed by Boice Home Care in Ancram, gardening and housecleaning, a job she truly loved.

Stella was devoted to her grandchildren: her greatest joy was playing with them and loving them. She enjoyed family camping trips to Vermont and frequenting tag sales and antique shops with her husband for any bargain they could find.

Day or night, she answered the phone by saying "Good mornin" and ended the conversation the same way.

Stella was skilled at math and bookkeeping, qualities that made her popular at tax time. She was fun-loving and had a knack for playing games, among her favorites were cards, Yatzee and bingo.

On March 21, 1970 in Copake, she married John W. Slater. They were married for 45 years until his death April 12, 2015.

She is survived by: her children, Melissa Slater of Gallatin, Timothy Slater of Millerton and Lewis Slater of Ancram; her two stepsons, Westley "Randy" Slater of Copake Falls and Anthony Slater of Hudson; along with 16 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Michael Miller of Ancramdale, Betty Slater of Elizaville, John Miller of Clinton, MA, Sally Watchel of Washington state, James Miller of Ancram, Rosemary Gansowski of Ancram and Joann Hoyt of Chestertown, along with several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a daughter, Crystal Lynn Slater, a stepson, Henry "Baldy" Slater and a sister, Annie Miller.

Friends are invited and may call at the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 8063 State Route 22 in Copake Falls, Monday, February 1, 2016 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home with Deacon Jackie Jefferson officiating.

Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery, Pine Plains.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ancram Fire Company, P.O. Box 8, Ancram 12502 or to the Crystal Lynn Slater Memorial Scholarship, c/o Peck and Peck Funeral Home, P.O. Box D, Copake 12516.

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