Dale Ruscilla Palmer

Dale R. Palmer, formerly of Vestal, NY, passed away on Wednesday, January 19th, 2022. Dale was 74 years old. She was a survivor. At age 39 she endured surgery and treatment for a malignant brain tumor and overcame several subsequent complications and significant brain injuries over the next three decades, yet always resumed her fierce pursuit of a beautiful life with the utmost joy and humor. She lived many happy years independently in Alfred, NY, and then moved into supported group living in Stoughton, Massachusetts, where she enjoyed a full life lived with dignity, art making, church going and family gatherings. Dale was determined to return to her hometown of Rushford, NY for the 50th anniversary of her high school reunion in 2015 and proudly rode in the town's Labor Day Parade with her classmates. Dale was an artist. She learned the basics through correspondence school while still a teenager and first taught Art to children in Rushford Central Schools. When she moved to Binghamton, NY with her husband and young daughter, Dale taught Art and Ceramics in the Activities Department at Elizabeth Church Manor, where she later became Director of Activities and generated many of the graphics for various communications in the United Methodist Church Homes. Dale moved on to share her art and her love for the elderly at Willow Point Nursing home in Vestal, NY, where she generated a weekly cartoon strip called "Hannah" in the home's newsletter, and she created a unique "life experience apartment suite" in the Activities offices to stimulate and comfort residents with Alzheimer's disease. Dale was a Christian, and always offered her talent and participated actively in the churches she attended, from Rushford Baptist Church to Binghamton's Calvary Baptist Church, to Vestal Free Methodist Church and finally Stoughton Baptist Church in Massachusetts. In 1987, when she was told her cancer was in remission, she asked to sing for her church at the time (Vestal Free Methodist) and offered with gratitude the hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness," declaring that it was God's healing that had helped her overcome her illness and injuries. Dale was the daughter of Pastor Richard L. Brown and his wife Anne Brown and is survived by six of their eight children: Diann Hayes, William Brown, Dorcas Weaver, Samuel Brown, Richard Brown, Jr. and Daniel Brown. Dale was predeceased by her sister Ruth Holbrook, and also by her husband, Gregory D. Palmer. Dale is survived by her two children, Anne Shreffler and Edward Palmer, her son-in-law Wayne Shreffler, her daughter-in-law Heather Palmer, her grandchildren Adelynn Shreffler and Kaitlin Shreffler, her sister-in-law Daryl Beffie, her niece Laura McLarnon as well as Laura's husband Jay McLarnon and their three sons, Jack, Charlie and Henry McLarnon. As Dale's long-time injuries became too much for her body, she was lovingly attended to in a small, beautiful group home by loving caretakers under United Cerebral Palsy of Metro Boston, where she enjoyed outings, gardening, art making and musical moments. UCP's mission is to help those with disabilities live full and meaningful lives with whatever they need to thrive. Dale's family asks that in lieu of flowers, gifts be sent to that organization in her memory and specifically for the support and maintenance of her final home, Stoughton House. A family and friends gathering will take place at 10 a.m. on March 26th at MacPherson Funeral Home in Newark Valley, NY, followed by a burial service at Glen Hope Cemetery in Berkshire, NY. The family will receive visitors and serve refreshments in the afternoon and evening at 1144 Gary Hunt Rd. Owego, NY 13827. Memories and condolences may be written in Dale's guestbook at macphersonfh.com. . Memorial Service MacPherson Funeral Home Saturday, March 26, 2022 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM 5 Whig St Newark Valley, NY 13811 Graveside Service Glen Hope Cemetery Saturday, March 26, 2022 12:00 PM Berkshire, New York