SOUTH PLYMOUTH – Ileana M. Ashcraft, 81, of South Plymouth, passed away on the 4th of July, 2008, in Binghamton’s General Hospital, following a short illness.
Born in Greene in September of 1926, a daughter of Stuart and Florence (Ellis) French, Ileana graduated from Cincinnatus High School and then worked for a time for the W.T. Grant Company and Montgomery Wards. Following her marriage to George Ashcraft in Greene on June 26, 1948, Ileana chose to stay at home and care for her family.
She was a loving wife, mother, sister, and eventually grandmother who was always ready to help anywhere she could. Always smiling and considerate of others, she loved family cookouts, spending time with her family, and feeding the birds. She and George were especially fond of watching the hummingbirds at the feeders, and, after a ride in the car, stopping somewhere to eat. Ileana and her family traveled to California in 1966 and had taken several trips to Florida over the past 15 years, one of which was to attend her oldest grandson’s wedding. Holidays were special because other outstanding homemade pies, especially the apple ones.
Ileana is survived by her husband, George Ashcraft, with whom she recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary; and by her children and their spouses: Rose and LeRoy Maricle of South Plymouth and Leslie and Janine Ashcraft of Morrisville. She is also survived by her sister, Evelyn Oros of Cortland and her grandchildren: Christopher Maricle and wife Colleen of DeLand, Fla., Brian Maricle of South Plymouth, and Bethany, Courtney, Deanna, and Patrick Ashcraft of Morrisville, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters: Marion Landers, Shirley French, Betty Stein, Lucille Strough, and Marleya Huttleston; and her brothers, Howard, LaVerne, Charles, Lloyd and Aaron French.
Funeral services for Ileana will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Jeremy Stopford of Norwich will officiate. Interment will follow in the South Plymouth Cemetery.
Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Saturday from noon until the service at 2 p.m.
Please consider memorial contributions to the American Heart Assoc., Hearts Gifts Processing Center, P. 0. Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220-3049.