Obituary of Jewell F. Slatton

Jewell “JoJo” Slatton, formerly of Quaker Hill, Connecticut, passed away peacefully in the early hours of September 22, 2022, accompanied by peals of lightning. JoJo’s hand was held by her daughter Vicki Vanderveen, who lovingly gave her a home in Ballston Lake, NY, during her time in hospice.

Most of her career, JoJo was an efficient administrative assistant in establishments such as Robert Fitch High School; Cutler Junior High; TRW; Waller, Smith and Palmer; and Hoyt, Filippetti and Malaghan, LLC. She was famed for her ability to find a hidden treasure and eBay it with panache; her beautiful quilting; her love for her longtime partner Joe Muratore and her cornbread and buttermilk. She taught her daughters to appreciate a spider web glistening with dew at dawn and her grandchildren the art of pie-making.

JoJo was born in Hornersville, Missouri on December 8, 1944 to Robert and Lorine (Barnum) Benton. She grew up in Benton Harbor, Michigan. As a Navy wife to Jim Slatton, she relocated to a number of states, eventually making Groton, Connecticut her home base.

She joins in the company of angels her mother Lorine “Granny Bee” Adkerson, her father Robert Benton, her sister Judy Poff, her grandson Christian Venderveen and her beloved Joe Muratore.

She is survived by her daughter Vicki (Larry) Vanderveen of Ballston Lake, NY and their children, Anneka, Katrina, Liesel, Holden, Annelies, Dawson and Abby Vanderveen and Caleb VanGundy; Abby’s children, Jordan and Wyatt; also by her daughter Traci Slatton (Sabin) Howard of Kent, CT and their children, Jessica and Naomi (Daniel Blanke) Hendel and Julia and Madeleine Howard and Naomi’s children, Isaiah and Isabel Blanke. In addition, she is survived by her brothers, Jimmy (Pearl) Benton of Benton Harbor, MI, William (Barbara) Benton of Houston, TX. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces/nephews and wonderful friends.

A memorial service is planned for October 1, 2022 at Langley’s Restaurant at Great Neck Golf Course in Waterford, CT.