Obituary of Joyce Schrader-Taras

Joyce Ann Schrader-Taras of Binghamton Joyce Ann Schrader - Taras, 84, of Binghamton set sail on the first voyage of her new life on April 21, 2010, surrounded by her loving family, at her home. Joyce was the daughter of the late John Blaine and Marian (Colburn) L'Hommedieu, formerly of Binghamton. Joyce was predeceased by husbands, Elmer James Schrader (1975) and Andrew Taras (2007). She is survived by her children, Linda (Ron) Koffman, AR, Kenneth John (Judy Ilse) Schrader, FL, and Jason (Elaine) Schrader, Vestal; her grandchildren, Jacques Blaine (Jennifer) Harrington, Candor, Kimberly (Miles) Katz, FL, Justin James Schrader, Brooklyn, Carly Schrader, Vestal; and great-grandsons, Jacob and Jayden Blaine Harrington and Louis John and Joshua Katz. Joyce is also survived by her sister, Mary Lou (Robert) Granacher, VA and their children, Scott (Betsy) Granacher and daughter, Lynette, of FL, and Debra (Joe) Gibbs, VA and son, Mitchell Goewey; her sisters-in-law, Pat Schrader, TN, Betty Perry, FL and Gloria Schrader, WA; and several cousins including Dot Hall, Norwich. Joyce is also survived by many dear friends including Marge Morello, Vestal, who stood up with Joyce at her 1993 wedding to Andrew; the "Breakfast Ladies" (friends since Benjamin Franklin School) including Beverly Doane, Dot Chantry and Margaret (Finch) MacMillen; also former neighbors, Peg Hammer, FL, Isabel Field, MD and lifelong friend, "Molly" (Schreiber) Shackman, MD. First and foremost, Joyce loved her family. She was blessed with two wonderful husbands who loved and adored her. She and her first love, Elmer/Jim, met in high school and married in 1945 while he was on furlough from the Army. They were so happy to become parents and were great role models to their children. Many wondrous, fun-filled summer vacations were spent at Green Bay, Bob's Lake, Ontario, Canada, often with Joyce's parents, her sister Mary Lou and her family, or Jim's family. The happy memories of those summers have become legendary. Traveling with a pop-up camper to Florida at Easter to visit her parents and a month-long trip camping across the USA and Canada to visit Jim's brother and his family in Seattle, and many other camping adventures were always great fun and exciting. For instance, Joyce's close-up and personal encounter with a very large bear who critiqued her dishwashing technique, and the time her then six year old son, Jay, escaped unnoticed from the back of the station wagon while stopped at a campground check-in office, running to catch up as it left for the camp site, until his older siblings realized that the kid running behind the car not only looked like him, but actually was Jay! The addition of a back-yard swimming pool in 1975 gave an opportunity for new, at-home fun, and her grandchildren learned to swim there. Joyce loved good food and dining out, and especially looked forward to the desserts, for instance, the cherry and lemon pie from Jane's Diner and the lemon bar from the Plaza Diner. Enjoying an ice cream at the Lone Maple Farm, while relaxing in the gazebo was a treat, as was lunch on the deck at Green Brother's or at Chat-A-While (especially the turkey soup!). She enjoyed these outings with family so much, delighting in the company and companionship, as well as the food, especially at Pete's legacy. She was an avid reader and enjoyed a wide range of genre, from laugh-out-loud at Stephanie Plum's adventures, to massive historical novels. She was very disappointed at being unable to finish her new Edward Rutherford novel, "New York", having read all of his other works. Music was important to her. As a young woman, she played the piano quite well. She loved Frank Sinatra and the music of her era, but also enjoyed anything Irish, like Enya and Celtic Women. Evenings would find her wrapped up in her cozy chair, reading and listening to music. She and her second husband, Andrew, loved the opera and enjoyed live performances as well as recorded. Both she and Jim had lovely singing voices and sang first in the High Street Methodist Church, and after moving to Vestal in 1953, sang for many years in the Vestal United Methodist Church choir. Another of Joyce's great pleasures was travel with Andrew, whether it was enjoying a tops-down ride in the RollsRoyce (with the Opera music blasting) to the Owego Treadway or the Chestnut Inn, Andrew at the wheel, a pretty scarf on her head. They loved cruises, and were able to go several times a year. The world was literally their oyster, and they relished it, and their champagne, Chandon, of course. The Greek Islands, Malta, Italy, (especially Venice and Lago Maggiore), the Hermitage in Russia, Versailles were favorites. They also enjoyed river cruises in Germany and France, finding them relaxing and the entertainment phenomenal. Another joy was meeting Andrew's daughter, Andrea and her husband, Tony, for nights on the town in Manhattan. Such fun they had! Joyce had a quiet, private, lady-like way about her, but was always there for family and friends, and truthfully, everyone who met her wanted to be her friend. She had a radiant, wide-open smile to welcome you and a wry sense of humor. All of the health care aides who assisted her commented on her wonderful personality and her will power. She was truly a feisty Irish woman with indomitable spirit. She never gave up on anything and left a legacy of love for her family. Joyce was thankful for the compassionate care and expertise of her surgeons, Dr. Cunningham of Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse and Dr. Bartoli at Lourdes. She considered Dr. Yalamanchili and "the girls" at Broome Oncology at Lourdes "like family". Special thanks to her nurses in 1Ross, including Carmen and "Mo", the staff at Home Instead and Lourdes Hospice. She and her family especially appreciated the love and attention she received from Marjorie Tubbert and her Elder Care staff. She spent happy hours sharing her cruise photo albums and memories with Bobbi Jo, and so enjoyed her lavender oil massages, also she loved the gentle touch and kisses of Pam, Shannon, Barbara, Elena, Linda and Beronne, and the fun she had giving Michele (also lovingly known as her "Nurse Ratchet") a hard time - Michele, thanks so much for your kindness and caring. May God bless you all. A Memorial Service for Joyce will be held 12:00 p.m. Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Coleman & Daniels Funeral Home, Inc., 765 Main St., Vestal. The Rev. Ann S. Blair, Pastor of the High Street United Methodist Church, Binghamton will officiate. Burial will be in Chenango Valley Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers those wishing may honor Joyce's unique and beautiful spirit by performing an act of kindness for someone else in her memory. For those so inclined, she asked that the High Street United Methodist Church and the Vestal United Methodist Church Choirs be gifted.