Colleen M. Slack

Colleen Marie Slack died peacefully at her Corning home on January 24, 2018, surrounded by her family.

She was born on January 12, 1928, in Montpelier VT, to Henry and Irene (Anair) Boxx and was married to Dean Slack, the love of her life and a well-known radio broadcast personality, who predeceased her in 2014. The couple met in junior high school and would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in July 2018. Dean loved to share the story of how, as a newspaper boy, he would pelt Colleen's bedroom window with pebbles to get her attention when passing her house on his daily delivery route. Who could resist such charm!
Colleen graduated from St Michael's High School in 1947. She spent the 1950s and 60s in Vermont and New Hampshire, helping her husband build his broadcast career and raising their four girls. Family, animals, and the great outdoors were Colleen's greatest joys in life. She was a lifelong avid gardener and knitter who not only spun her own wool, but raised her own sheep.
The couple moved to Corning, NY in the mid-1970s to run the local radio station, WCBA. Colleen worked as the station's business manager and receptionist as well as the infamous "Kitty Bow-Wow" - a friendly on-air radio character who reported daily on the lost and adoptable pets in the Corning area.
Following her stint at the radio station, Colleen opened her own Crabtree & Evelyn shop on Market St. She ran her business through the 1990s before retiring. A lifelong volunteer, she devoted her time and energy to area hospitals, youth centers, and food pantries and the Corning area is better because of her generosity.
A loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, and grandmother, Colleen was adored by her family for her warmth, strength, and independence throughout her life. She was predeceased by her sisters Norma Jean Hartsock and Alice Foley and her brother, Dennis Boxx. She is survived by her children, Kimberly Slack of Corning, NY; Allyson Roles of Bartlett, TX; Andrea Slack of Elkton, MD; and Erika Rosettie (Jim) of Hammondsport, NY, as well as 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
A Mass will be held at St. Mary's Church, 155 State St, Corning, NY at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, January 30, 2018. There will be no public calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Colleen's name to the Chemung County Humane Society & SPCA, 2435 St. Rt. 352, Elmira, New York 14903-7933 (www.chemungspca.org)

Service Details
Home: Corning, New York
Service Date: January 30, 2018
Service Place:St. Mary's Church

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