Obituary of Jennie Mae Sloper

Jennie Mae Sloper, 91, of LaFayette, NY, died on Friday, October 20, 2017. Born on March 2, 1926 in Copenhagen, NY, she was the daughter of Rev. Earl and Vera (Andrus) Hartley. Jennie Mae graduated from Copenhagen School and earned her teaching degree from Potsdam State Teachers' College. She taught in Belleville and Clayton, and spent most of her career teaching in the LaFayette Central School District. On Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, she married Harris Sloper. They were married for over 57 years until Harris's death in 2006. In addition to teaching, Jennie was an active member of Onativia United Methodist Church, where she fulfilled may roles, especially that of organist - a position from which she had to "retire" three times before it became permanent. She was also an avid knitter, making sweaters, mittens and prayer shawls for family, friends, and the needy. Her greatest joy was spending time with family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jennie Mae is survived by her daughters: Marta (Alice Fadden) Sloper of Homer, NY, Beth (Ted) Doolittle of Moravia, NY, and Kitt (Joe) Cookhouse of Cazenovia, NY. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Justin (Jamie) Kieffer, Stephanie (Andy Chavoustie) Kieffer, Melanie (Dave Johnston) Doolittle, Alex (Aurora) Cookhouse, and Fred (Ivanka Atamanchuk) Cookhouse; and her great-grandchildren: Jacob, Serenity and Joey Kieffer. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her husband and parents, Jennie Mae was predeceased by: her grand-daughter, Allyson Cookhouse; her sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Bob Brown; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Harvey and Winnie Sloper, Adella and Everett Clark, E. Jane and N. James Polney, Lilla and Cliff Dingman, and George and Mabel Sloper. Funeral services for Jennie Mae will be Friday, October 27, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Ballweg & Lunsford Funeral Home, 4612 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13205 with Rev. Betty Burlew officiating. Burial at Maplewood Cemetery (Berwyn) will follow the funeral service. Calling hours are Thursday, October 26, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Donations in Jennie Mae's memory may be made to the LaFayette Teachers' Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Ann Cortright, LTA Pres., 3122 Rt. 11 N, LaFayette, NY 13084. To express sympathy, please visit www.ballweg-lunsford.com