Frankfort - Our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister and Friend, Muriel Lasher passed away peacefully in the early morning hours on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at Lutheran Care in Clinton where she had been a resident since April. Her Son was with her at the time of her passing.
Muriel was born on December 29, 1929 in Canastota, the daughter of the late Harold and Ruth Cox Smith. She was educated in local schools and graduated from Mohawk Beauty School. On October 22, 1953, she married the love of her life, Leonard Lasher at the Frankfort United Methodist Church, a blessed union of 55 years. Her beloved Leonard passed away on April 30, 2008. This was a loss that she never got over, and it is her family's comfort to know they are together again. Muriel worked as a Clerk at Nichol's Departments Store, Herkimer for many years and was a member of the Ilion United Methodist Church. She was her family's support system in everything they did, never ending a conversation without saying "I Love You". She liked to crochet, her music, going out to dinner with her son and most of all spending time with her family. She looked forward to the family's annual holiday gathering and made the best Macaroni and Cheese you ever had. She will be missed. She was truly a great Mother and an even better friend.
Muriel is survived by her three beloved sons, Gary Lasher and his companion, Marsha Peach of Fairfield, Mark Lasher of Utica and Daniel Lasher, her best friend and caregiver with whom she resided, of Frankfort; her former daughter in law, Karen Bamberger of Ilion; her grandchildren, Matthew Lasher, Michael Lasher, Jessica Lasher and her companion, Brian Brant, Karen Sterusky and PFC Zachary Lasher and his companion, Kim Seamon; her beloved twin great granddaughters, Emiley and Olivia Lasher; one brother and sister in law, Hollis and Rose Smith of Hamilton; her sisters with whom she was very close, Betty Vanderbilt and Carol Rex and her companion, Ed LaForce, all of Ilion and Nancy Ebersol of Cazenovia; her in laws, Mary Louise Smith of Ilion, Shirley Herring of Mohawk, Len "Rossi" Rossitano of TN and Janet Smith of Ilion; her friends, the "Dialysis Daisies", Joann Williams, Kay Mazzara, Robin Kasperik, Marge Berrie and her family who was like a daughter to her and Helen Frye; her beloved feline companion, Tinker and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by two brothers, Wallace Smith in 1989 and Curtis Smith in 2009; her in laws, Curtis Vanderbilt, Raymond Richmond, Lyman Rex, Marion Rossitano, Claire Ebersol, James Carr and Betty Hunter as well as her canine companion, "Puddles" who was by far the best dog in the world.
Muriel's family would like to extend their sincere thanks to the staff of the Lutheran Care Community for their expert care for the short time she spent there. In addition, thanks goes out to Dr. Cheryl Mattern and her staff for years of dedicated care, Judy Balch at Northeast Nurse Practitioners and the staff of the Medicine Shoppe of Ilion.
Her funeral will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 from the V. J. Iocovozzi Funeral Home, Inc., 203 Second Ave., Frankfort. Interment will be in Crown Hill Memorial Park. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 4-7 at the V. J. Iocovozzi Funeral Home, Inc.
Expressions of sympathy may be placed on Muriel's online memorial page by going to www.iocovozzifuneralhomes.com