Obituary of Deborah Ann Shader

Deborah Ann (Deb) Shader

On March 23, 2017, our Lord decided Deborah Ann Shader, of Bath, would become his newest angel and took her home. Deborah was born October 17, 1952 to Robert L. and Barbara M. (Ostrowski) Shader. Deb started her life with a birth defect which created many challenges during her life. Even after many major and minor surgeries those challenges did not slow her down or dampen her amazing spirit for life. Deb was a graduate of Prattsburgh Central School where she participated in speaking contests and was a member of the Wheeler Grange. She went on to attend Corning Community College and later earn a degree on line through Empire State.

Deb's first job was working with emotionally disturbed children at the Al Sigl Center in Rochester, NY. Later she became a remedial reading instructor at Prattsburgh Central School. Deb became a certified ceramic instructor and taught many classes at the Shader's Ceramic Barn in Wheeler. She moved to the Spring Meadows Apartments in Bath where she continued to teach ceramics and inspire those around her.

Deb became interested in the Relay for Life after her father passed away due to cancer. She organized family and friends to start "Bob's Kids", which she was the captain of for several years. Deb was asked to take over as the head of the Bath-Hammondsport Relay for Life which she ran and organized for two years. Deb was loved and respected by all those involved and did an amazing job.

Major surgery sent her to University Hospital in Cleveland and then to her new home at the Steuben County Health Care Facility, now known as Steuben Centers Health Care Facility. This did not slow her down as she became the gift shop manager and still had time to deliver mail to the residents. Deb taught us all the meaning of perseverance, compassion, love, and caring. Her love of decorating truly rubbed off on anyone who had witnessed her transformation from one holiday to the next.

Deb is predeceased by her grandparents: Guy and Leta Shader and Julian and Sophie Ostrowski, her father Robert L. Shader, her brother Robert G. Shader, uncles: Harold Shader, Donald Ostrowski, and Richard Ostrowski and her beloved cat "Mo". Deb is survived by her mother Barbara Shader of Bath, her sisters: Roxanne (Milton) von Hagn, Christine (Don) Gleason all of Bath, sister-in-law Kimberly Shader of Roanoke, VA., nieces: Andrea (Lynda) von Witt of Hammondsport, Erica Gleason of Bath, Rachael Shader and Kayla Shader of Roanoke, VA., nephews: Todd (Sheri) von Hagn of Bath, Chad Gleason of Bath, Mitchell Shader of Roanoke, VA., great-nieces: Ashley von Hagn and Brenna Norton of Bath.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of life to be held at St. Mary's Church in Bath on Friday, March 31, 2017 from 2:00-3:00 with a Mass to follow. Burial will be in Nondaga Cemetery. Guest are welcome to join the family at the Bath VFW following the service. Donations may be made to the Bath-Hammondsport Relay for Life, PO Box 274, Big Flats, NY 14814, Camp Good Days.org/donations or a charity of one's choice in Deb's name.