NORTH NORWICH – Josephine M. Decker, 72, of North Norwich, passed away early Thursday morning, June 25, 2009, in the Chenango Memorial Hospital.
The daughter of Louis and Leila Thompson Wright, Jo was born in East Pharsalia in November of 1936. She first attended school in Norwich, and was a 1955 graduate of the Sherburne-Earlville School district. Jo and her husband of over 53 years, George E. Decker, were married in Sherburne on January 28, 1956. She worked for a couple of years for the Norwich Shoe Company and later, in 1966 after George had received his honorary discharge from the military, she went to beautician’s school and opened her own shop in her home. Known as the Red Shutter Beauty Salon, Jo’s business thrived until 1977 when she had to curtail her activities due to poor health. Jo was a person who liked to be busy. A quilter and crocheter with many fine articles to her credit, she also had a great affection for children and liked sharing in their activities, such as sledding downhill in the winter. She enjoyed winter in general and especially the Christmas season, and loved spending time with her family and her two Chows. She and George had made North Norwich their permanent home since 1965.
Jo is survived by her husband, George Decker of North Norwich, and her children, Kathie Lawrence of North Norwich and Daniel Decker and wife Theresa of Greenville, S.C. Also surviving are her grandchildren: Cheryl White and husband Linn of West Edmeston, Jonathan Lawrence of North Norwich, and Jessica, Michael, Elizabeth, and Joshua Decker, all of S.C.; her great grandchildren, Tyler and Katrina White of West Edmeston; her sister Adelaide Aldrich and husband Elmer of Oxford; her brothers, Elmer Wright and wife Rose of DeRuyter and George N. Wright and wife Judy of North Norwich along with nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Jo will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. from the Faith Baptist Tabernacle of Sherburne. The Rev. John Blackburn, Pastor, will officiate. Interment will be in the North Norwich Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m.
Please consider memorial contributions to either the Valley Heights Christian Academy, 75 Calvary Drive, Norwich, NY 13815 or to the Faith Baptist Tabernacle, 10 Utica Rd., Sherburne, NY 13460.