OXFORD – Mary Flora Lashway, 98, of Oxford, NY passed into the arms of the Lord on September 11, 2013 at the Chenango Memorial Hospital Residential Health Care Facility. She was born on June 28, 1915 in Ellenburg Center, NY to the late John and Sarah (Miller) Dominic. On February 3, 1931 she married the late Earl Lashway.
Mary leaves behind eight children, Beverly (Jim) Doughty of Greene, John (Nina) Lashway of Afton, Herbert (Theresa) Lashway of Oxford, Sheila Hall of Oxford, Earl (Karen) Lashway of South Hadley, MA, Elaine (Doug) Nenarella, Marcia (John) DiFrancesco, and Pam (Craig) Chesebro all of Oxford, NY; as well as 34 grandchildren and 104 great/great-great grandchildren. Her sister Beula Forkey of Vestal, NY, and several nieces and nephews also survive. She was predeceased by her husband Earl who passed away on October 15, 1989; her son Albert Lashway, and daughter Anita Benedict; her grandsons Timothy Lashway, Robert Lashway and Troy Benedict; as well as her sisters and brothers, Hazel Fellows, Addie Yelle, Edward Dominic, Eva Lashway, Elsie Menard, Albert Dominic and Lula Alford.
Above everything else, Mary loved her family dearly. Every Sunday she would cook lunch and include homemade rolls and pies, never knowing how many would show up. When she became unable to do the cooking herself, her daughters took to her kitchen and kept the tradition going. Mary also loved her farm and each and every animal on it. If one of her cows was in labor, she would get up every hour on the hour and trek to the barn to make sure the mother was alright. She was still raking hay at 89 years old, and drove her tractor around the farm on her 95th birthday to show her entire family she could still do it. Our wonderful, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother will be missed. Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 16 at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Oxford. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Behe Funeral Home, 21 Main Street, Oxford. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to CMH Residential Health Care Facility c/o Activities Dept., 179 N. Broad Street, Norwich, NY 13815; or to your local emergency squad. Memories and condolences may be shared by visiting www.behefuneralhome.com.