Althea S. (Sleight) Crane

Crane, Althea Sleight (DiLucia)

A 55 year resident of Rochester's Browncroft neighborhood and formerly of Livonia, NY, Althea died May 9, 2014 following an extended illness. She is predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Irving, who passed away Nov. 17, 2001 and by her 3 sisters and their husbands : Madeline Sleight Finlay and Stuart Finlay, Theda Sleight Reilly and John Reilly and M. Jean Sleight Sutherland and G. Richard Sutherland. Her only brother, Robert Sleight is 91 and resides in Arizona.

Althea was the first of 5 children born on the Sleight farm at Denison's Corners , Livingston County to Marion Hoppough Sleight and Edson Sleight. As a youngster, she tended the birth of lambs, rode the gentler of the farm horses and was 2nd mother to her siblings. As a teen, she met in Livonia High School the young man she would marry one day....Irving Crane, soon to be known in the pocket billiard world as "The Boy Wonder From Livonia". "Thea" and Irv spent their 1937 honeymoon in New York City at a world's pocket billiard championship. Only 24 years old, Irv placed 2nd against a field of many senior and more experienced competitors. Althea was his greatest supporter, accompanying him to events in four decades spanning the 1940's through the 1970's.

Althea earned her teaching certificate (the equivalent of a BS degree) in 1935 from Geneseo State Normal School. This saw her through 20 + years as an elementary level teacher in Rochester, Gates and Penfield schools. Always going beyond her job expectations , she helped students and their families with personal problems and gave extra attention to the child who did not receive it at home.

In her senior years, though eyesight and hearing failed her, she remained strong and determined. The loves of her life became all important. Irv Sr. needed her care and so looked forward to her great home cooking. Once her "best friend" had passed, she built her world around her 2 children and their spouses, Irv Jr. and Shirley Crane, Sandy Crane DiLucia and Dom Dilucia, her grand-children, David (Lisa) Crane, Sharon Hines, Joanne (Matt) Hach and her 8 great grand-children : Gregory 15, Mark 13, Lauren 13, Dalton 12, Jessica 11, Briley 9, Emily 8, and Zach 5. Also surviving Althea are 3 step grand-sons: Pat, Joe and John DiLucia , their families , nieces, nephews and dear friends.

The Crane family would like to express our deep appreciation to the close neighbors who helped us care for Althea in her later years. We are especially grateful for the Home Health Aides of Home Care Plus whose dedication and work ethic were exemplary as was their loving connection to "Miss Althea" throughout the past seventeen months. She and we regard many of you as family.

Althea will be remembered for her love of children, devotion to family, her sincere warmth and her loyalty in friendship. She was intelligent, wise, nurturing and often put others before herself. Hidden
below the surface, there was always a flair for the dramatic which endeared her to many. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. We were so fortunate to have her with us for 98 years....and it still wasn't quite long enough.

Friends will be received WEDNESDAY, May 14, 2014, 4-8 PM at Crawford Funeral Home, 495 N. Winton Rd. (between Browncroft and Humboldt), where a service will be held THURSDAY May 15 at 10 AM. Interment: Union Cemetery, Big Tree Street , Livonia, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to : Camp Good Days and Special Times, 1332 Pittsford-Mendon Rd. , Mendon, NY 14506 or to: The Flaum Eye Institute, c/o URMC Advancements, PO Box 278996, Rochester, NY 14627, Attn: Jennifer Richardson. Online Condolences welcomed at: www.CrawfordFuneralHome.com

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