Obituary of Theodora McLean

BLOOMVILLE — Theodora McLean (Teddy), 86, of Bloomville, went to Heaven exactly 55 years to the day to join her beloved mother, Cassie Joslin (Aug. 10, 1958) on Aug. 10, 2013. Theodora was born July 5, 1927, in a Model-T car, daughter of Andrew and Cassie Joslin. Theodora was a lifetime resident of the Bloomville area. She was for most a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a great friend to many. She was a barrel mover in her younger years. She was very proud of that. She and her husband Kenneth were dairy farmers for many years. She then became a dressmaker in the Oneonta Dress factory for several years. She retired from the Sanyo factory. Her passion was her flower gardens. She would spend sun up to sun down working in them. She loved to sit on her front porch with family and friends enjoying the beauty she worked so hard on. Mom also loved her birds, especially hummingbirds. She also had a love for good food. Seafood and steak were her most favorite. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The winter months Mom worked on her crafts. She made many quilts through the years, doilies, and many other craft projects, which she enjoyed everyone opening at Christmas. She enjoyed making others smile, little did she know but she lit up the room when she walked in to it. Mom loved her house pets, especially her dogs, they gave her strength. She will be joining her parents; brothers and sister; her husband, Kenneth McLean; her daughter, Barbara McLean; her grandson, Catlin Thomas; her pets, Tasha and Flurry in the Heavens above. She is survived by her daughters, Wanda Signor, Joyce and Gary Tompkins, Ann and Carl Cole, Donna and Glen Williams, Rose Thomas Suchy; and sons, John McLean and Keith and Connie McLean; ex-in-laws faithful to the end, Eugene Robinson, Stanley Suchy and Denise McLean; two very special friends, Edie Thomson and Cora Mueller. What really made her smile were her 14 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. There will be no calling hours. Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013, in the Trinity Lutheran Church, Stamford, with Deacon Glenn Schermerhorn officiating. Burial will take place in Riverside Cemetery, Bloomville, following the funeral. Contributions in her memory may be made to Catskill Area Hospice or St. Jude Cancer Center. Arrangements are with the MacArthur Funeral Home, Hobart. "Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us everyday, unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed and very dear. For Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, and love leaves a Memory no one can steal."