Obituary of Elsie R. Stoddard

The joyful, loving, and faith-filled Elsie Stoddard died peacefully on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge, New Jersey surrounded by the love of her family. Elsie never lost her warm positive attitude and deep embracing smile, even through a long and earnest battle with Alzheimer's disease. Elsie Ruth Laier was born on March 6, 1931 in Buffalo, NY to Fred Henry Laier and Elsie Schmidt Laier. Her father was a construction engineer for the New York Central Railroad and her mother was a piano teacher and church organist. She is predeceased by three older sisters, Margaret Schweikhard of Buffalo, NY, Jean Beuscher of Lewisburg, PA, and Carol White of Chicago, IL. Elsie was raised in Buffalo where she attended the public schools. She had an outgoing disposition and a natural talent for acting which garnered her a unique job during high school playing "Penny" on radio station WBEN with host "Uncle Ben." Her animated personality also caused her sisters to call her a "wohs ffo" (pronounced "wowz-foo"), a backwards version of "show off." It was a moniker she took on with some pride. She attended Buffalo State College where she was active in student affairs and graduated with a major in special education. Elsie's first job was starting a new special education class for 6 to 14-year olds in West Hartford, CT. She had to prepare unique lesson plans for each grade level and student. She loved this job and her students loved her, some staying in touch with her for decades. She later taught a classroom of first-grade students in Bergenfield, NJ, but her talent and love for special education brought her back to teaching children with disabilities at the Matheny School in Peapack, NJ. After retirement, she continued volunteering as the "reading lady" at the Albrook Montessori School. Elsie was also an active volunteer at the YMCA, the Visiting Nurse Association, with the AFS international student exchange program, and the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, where she sang in the choir for over 38 years. In addition, she provided loving care as a Stephen Minister for many people in need, a gift that was graciously returned to her in her final months. It was while teaching in West Hartford, CT that Elsie met her future husband, Fox Stoddard. Elsie and Fox were married in Buffalo, NY on July 9, 1955. The young couple and their growing family moved many times as Fox was assigned to different jobs with AT&T. Over the years, the family lived in Bergenfield, NJ, Little Falls, NJ, Washington, DC, Louisville, KY, Boston, MA, Thornwood, NY, and Franklin Lakes, NJ, finally settling in Basking Ridge, NJ where they have lived since 1978. Elsie and Fox raised five children – Paul Fox, David Fred, Virginia Lee, Carolynn Ruth, and Mark Laier. During the family's many moves, each attended numerous public schools and remained consistently active in music, theater, and athletic programs wherever they were living. They enjoyed many family camping and skiing trips with friends. Elsie and Fox were active in church and local singing groups and started book groups wherever they lived. From the time her children entered high school, Elsie was very active in AFS Intercultural Programs and the family hosted students from numerous countries. Later, they made trips to Yugoslavia and Argentina to visit the students they had hosted. As an AFS volunteer, Elsie was responsible for placing students with host families and served as a counselor to make the experience enjoyable and worthwhile for all. The Stoddards' most enduring experience with AFS led Elsie and Fox to sponsor the Zlatar family's immigration to the United States from Yugoslavia. Now U.S. citizens, Sneska and Milan, together with their two children, are embraced as family. After Elsie and Fox's retirement, they purchased a motorhome and traveled extensively, visiting nearly every US state and Canadian Province. When they weren't driving, they were flying off on trips to absorb the history and culture of all seven continents and over one hundred countries. Along the way, they participated in many Elderhostel programs. Back home, they shared their travel experiences frequently with the community by presenting programs to Leisure Learning, school groups, and other community organizations. An exceptionally devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother, for Elsie, family came first, second, and third. Elsie particularly enjoyed spending summers at the family lake house on Lake Wallenpaupack, in Pennsylvania, where her children, grandchildren, and relatives often gathered for buoyant and joyful events and celebrations. Her many grandchildren loved family reunions and "Camp Wally" with their "GramE," including crafts, campfire songs, and s'mores by the lake. Many dear friends also visited and as an energetic hostess, Elsie was always ready to keep the conversation going, start a game, or play something new. Her one rule was that visitors must write in the guest book! These cherished memories, preserved through words and pictures in several large guest books, provided great comfort and joy to Elsie as her own memories faded. Elsie is survived by her devoted husband of 62 wonderful years, Fox; her five children and their spouses, Paul and Judith, David and Marj, Ginny and Bernard DeLoach (deceased), Lynn and Chris, and Mark and Rachel; 12 grandchildren – Tim, Adam, Ruth, Tyler, Dan, Sarah, Tannin, Philip, Amy, Ben, Stephen, and Zachary; and their AFS extended family – Snezana, Milan, Stasa, and Ivan Zlatar. Elsie was a very generous woman who supported many causes and charities. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Doctors Without Borders, The Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church Music Fund, the Alzheimer's Association, or to a charity of your choice. A service of remembrance and celebration will be held at Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge, NJ at 2:30 pm on Monday, September 18th, followed by a reception. Please see Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home website for important off-site parking information – www.gcfuneralhome.com.