| Date of Birth | November 10, 1915 |
| Passed Away | July 17, 2010 |
| Place of Residence | Avoca |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | July 21, 2010 |
| Service Time | 3 P.M. |
| Service Location | Avoca Funeral Home |
| Interment Location | Valley View Cemetery, Avoca |
MAY H. TADDER
AVOCA-May H. Tadder, 94, of Avoca passed away Saturday (July 17, 2010) at Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. She was the devoted wife/caregiver of Art Tadder, who was also a resident of Taylor Health Center until his death. She was married over 64 years and resided in Avoca before moving to Taylor Health Center.
Born on Nov. 10, 1915, in Rochester, N Y., the daughter of Jay Warner Hauss and Wilhelmina Kneer Hauss, she moved to Avoca following her marriage. She graduated from Avon Central School as valedictorian and graduated from Geneseo Normal School with a major in education. Later she received some additional credits at Columbia University.
May taught in one-room schoolhouses in the East Wayland and Avoca School Districts before joining the teaching staff at Avoca Central School. She left the teaching career after several years to marry Art Tadder and later raised two children. May returned to Avoca Central School for a few years as a teacher’s aide. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Stars and a staunch supporter/member of the Avoca Historical Society. Much of her local memorabilia was donated to the Avoca Historical Society as well as the Glenn Curtiss Museum.
Surviving are a son, Allan and wife Judy Tadder of Nokomis, Florida; a daughter, Cheryl and husband, William Smith III of Glendora, California; a granddaughter Stephanie Smith and her husband, Corey and their son, Fletcher of Monrovia, California. Also surviving are a brother, Ramon and his wife, Rita Mehlenbacher as well as nieces and nephews.
Sincere thanks and appreciation go to the employees and staff at Taylor Health Center for the compassionate care extended to May during her stay with special thanks to Tracy Faucett, her dedicated and long term caregiver prior to her residency at Taylor Health Center.
At May’s request, there will be no calling hours with private funeral services held at the Avoca Funeral Home, 22 N. Main St., Avoca at 3:00 p.m. today (Wednesday), with Terry Sutfin officiating. Committal services and interment will be at Valley View Cemetery, Avoca at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
None sweeter were made than my Grandma May. She was (and is) a warm, loving, caring, smart, strong woman. Some knew her as a teacher, others as an antique hunter, the fortunate as a baker. She gave me the cookbook that saw her through her early days of marriage– the way to a man’s heart– and taught me the tricks for perfect sugar cookies. She was an avid letter-writer, too, and it turns out I am a pretty good packrat. I keep finding notes she wrote in her perfect Palmer Method handwriting– about picnics she and Grandpa Art took, Buffalo Bills games watched, and always peppered with questions about what I and the family were up to those days. She was a really good listener, and an excellent hugger, and while she is gone, she is not forgotten. It’s late, and time to rest. I love you, Grandma May XXXOOO
To the Tadder Family,
We, at Spring Meadow Apartments offer our condolences to your family. For the brief time that she was here we enjoyed her company.May God Bless You all. Madelyn Glover and the Meadowlarks-Tenants
May had to be the sweetest person I have know. We were friends through the quilts my mother-in-law, Mary Mitchell had made for her family. Our 2nd connection has been our beloved Avoca Historical Society. She wrote wonderful notes, always interested in what I was doing. Accept our sympathy and prayers.
I took care of May in her home for a short time before she went to Taylors. I remember when she wanted me to take her to the craft show they were having in her building. She took her precious time picking out just the right gifts for her families Christmas presents. I remember thinking how much she must have loved all of them. I remember there was a kitchen towel that she really loved, but she would not spend the money on herself, because she wanted to make sure she had enough for all her loved ones. So of course I had to go and buy it for her, and give it to her for Christmas that year. I will really miss May. She always had a smile for me and my son Craig when we showed up to visit. She would run her fingers through his curls and tell him how cute he was. I went to visit her in the hospital when she first got sick. I bought her an angel teddy bear to keep with her there. It said prayers to her when she squeezed the tummy. She loved that. She had such a big smile when I gave it to her. May wherever you are always remember how much you meant to all of us. I will see you again someday.
With Love,