Priscilla Mary Foster

Priscilla ‘Pris’ Mary Foster, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 11th at Vesta House in Chandler, Arizona.

She was born in Glens Falls, NY on August 4, 1942 to George Edwin and Florence Matilda Marra Penders.

Pris is survived her sister, Paula Prater of Palmer, MA, her sister in law, Helen Fowler (Vaughn) of Queensbury, NY, her daughter Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Wilder (Ernie) of Fort Ann, NY, her daughter Elaine Marie Foster of Tempe, AZ, her son, Eddie Foster, Jr. (Marie) of Phoenix, AZ, along with her three grandsons, Ernie Wilder III, Edward Foster III, Armani Foster, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband Ed and her parents, Pris was predeceased by several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Three of her siblings; Patricia, Patrick and Phyllis as well as two nephews; Greg and Tim, along with two brother-in laws; Greg Farry and Rick Prater have also predeceased her.

She grew up in the Glens Falls, NY area and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy High School in 1960. She attended college at the State University of New York in Farmingdale, NY where she obtained her two year degree in dental hygiene in 1962.

Growing up near farms on Meadowbrook Road in Glens Falls brought Pris a lot of joy to ride her blue bike and stop to pick wildflowers. The Anne of Green Gables series were her favorite books to read. The family moved back to the city of Glens Falls when she was a teenager.

A favored job in high school was working at the Paramount movie theater in downtown Glens Falls. She worked as both an usher and sold popcorn at the concession stand. Her siblings benefitted with free movies time to time. Years later, her daughter Elaine Marie and son Eddie worked at the Glen Drive-In in Lake George, NY also selling popcorn at that concession stand.

After college, Pris worked with Dr. Harvey Dearstyne Jr as a dental hygienist. She formed a great friendship with the staff there, including Sandy Monahan, the receptionist and continued to have her family go there for all their dental care for many years. Pris and Sandy took many annual trips to the shores of Maine where she enjoyed being near the Ocean.

Pris married Edward ‘Ed’ Foster on June 7, 1964, they met in St. Mary’s School and started dating their senior year.

They spent the majority of their time raising their children in Glens Falls where both Beth and Eddie were born. For a few years between 1966 and 1969, they lived in Norwich, Connecticut where Elaine was born.

Pris loved decorating and celebrating. She would spend time with her children making homemade holiday decorations. Her creativity showed up in many ways. The most fun for her children on their birthdays was each gift having a hand written clue on the gift tag. The fun was trying to guess the gift inside before opening it.

A favorite afternoon activity with her children was driving nearby country roads to stop and feed horses sugar cubes, and pick wildflowers. She also loved watching her children pursue their respective athletic and musical endeavors.

Pris loved to sew and enjoyed making homemade clothes. She also enjoyed bowling, and country dancing. Pictures of covered bridges, humming birds, butterflies and sunflowers were her favorites.

She worked part time at dental offices in the early 1970’s. She went to work full time at CR Bard, a medical technology company, in 1979 and worked there for eighteen years in various roles.

Her canine soulmate was a large sheepdog named Waldo, who was her companion in the early 1980s when she worked the night shift at CR Bard. A family tradition started that her son’s family carried on by having three sheepdogs while raising their children. Pris enjoyed when those dogs would come to visit.

She relocated to Mesa, AZ in 1997 and then to Sun Lakes, AZ in 2005.

Pris and Ed renewed their vows in a small family ceremony at their home in Mesa on March 15, 1997. The setting was very meaningful, as her son Eddie had designed and created a beautiful back yard remodel. Many family gatherings happened in the years they lived there.

After moving to Arizona, Pris worked at a Lutheran Thrift store in the Phoenix area, which she enjoyed thoroughly. This small gem was such a fun place and she often came home with her ‘finds’ that were unique gifts for the family. She retired from her last job with Sears in 2005.

During her active retirement years: she enjoyed yoga, attending Unity of Sun Lakes, and thrift store shopping. She loved time with her grandsons, especially going fishing in the Sun Lakes Community lakes and following their ice hockey games each season. She remained passionate about family gatherings and holiday decorating.

Pris loved being a mom, aunt and grandmother. She loved watching her children grow up and create their adult lives. She enjoyed following her daughter Beth’s pharmacy career and farm life; she enjoyed watching her daughter Elaine Marie pursue all her interests and love of adventures; and also loved being such a huge part of her son Eddie’s family, particularly their collective love of ice hockey.

Pris will be remembered for her love of family, dedication to others as displayed by her thoughtful gift giving and pure joy with family successes. She had a fiery side too. Pris will also be remembered for a slew of quirky sayings she uttered with a knowing smirk. She started each day with her meditation and prayer time, always holding space for all she loved, especially when someone was going through a struggle. Her greatest characteristic was when she got silly and relaxed into the joys of collective laughter.

The family is so appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from those that knew Pris. Her passing has come after complications of coronary artery disease. We believe that she has gone to a better place, is reunited with loved ones past and is now free of the challenges of long term chronic illness.

There will be no calling hours or services. A small family gathering will take place on Sunday, August 17th at the family home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Whitney & Murphy Bueler Mortuary in Chandler, AZ. Online condolences can be made by visiting http://buelermortuary.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Pris’s memory may be made to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital at PhoenixChildrensFoundation