Obituary of Frances L. Shuster

DOLGEVILLE - Frances L. Shuster, 86, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 27, 2011 at Valley Health Services in Herkimer, NY. Born in Scotia, NY, she was the daughter of the late Emery Grant and Mary Grace Wood Smith. She was a graduate of St. Johnsville High School class of 1942. She was a graduate of Herkimer County Community College Class of 1971 where she received an Associate Degree in Accounting and was the class salutatorian. Frances was united in marriage to her husband of 54 years, Robert E. Shuster, on April 28, 1944 at the United Methodist Church, St. Johnsville. He predeceased her on January 29, 1999. She was a past member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, St. Johnsville, NY. She joined the DAR in 1948 and served as Regent and as Treasurer of local Chapter #140. She was a member of the Putt Putt Snowmobile Club and the former Diamond Square Dance Club. She served as a volunteer for Little Falls Hospital, Little Falls Library, Hospice, and Literacy for Adults. She also enjoyed motorcycling, canoeing, family vacations, and summers at her camp, Mountain Cove, on Lake Pleasant. Frances and her husband owned and operated a dairy farm in Crum Creek, St. Johnsville, for some 20 years. Later, she was employed for 15 years as a secretary at the former Daniel Green Shoe, Corp., Dolgeville, retiring in 1990. She is survived by her three sons William P. Shuster, Albany, Daniel R. Shuster, Dolgeville, Randall G. Shuster, Dolgeville, and her daughter, Kathleen and son-in-law Robert K. Schlotzhauer, Jr., Palatine Bridge, two grandsons, Brian Jonker, Chittenango, and Dr. Jamie Jonker, Washington, DC , two great grandchildren, Mariana and Iuliu Jonker, sisters-in-law, Mildred Hill, Melonie "Tiny" Shuster, and Janet Shuster, and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, Sanford W. Smith and Clifford Smith and her sister, Louise Hillegas. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 10 am from the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, Inc., 42 N. Ann Street, Little Falls with Rev. David Johnson, Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, St. Johnsville, officiating. Interment will follow in West St. Johnsville Cemetery. Relatives and friends may pay their respects at the funeral home on Wednesday evening, June 1, 2011 from 5-8 pm. The Fort Plain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will present a Memorial Service on Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm. Because of her love of reading and history, it is the wish of the family that contributions in memory of Frances Shuster be considered to the Margaret Reaney Memorial Library 15 Kingsbury Ave., St. Johnsville, NY 13452. Envelopes are also available at the funeral home for this purpose.