Obituary of Pauline Muth

West Charlton- Pauline Frances Muth, 76, of West Charlton, NY passed away peacefully on September 24, surrounded by family at her beloved Bonsai studio.  She courageously fought a nine year battle with thyroid cancer exacerbated by two inaccurate medical diagnoses at the beginning and highlighted by absolutely stellar medical care the last six years.  Pauline grew up in North Tonawanda, NY, where she met her husband, Myron, of 56 years.

She is survived by her husband, Myron C. Muth Sr., her children Myron C. Muth Jr. (Karen), Shawn D. Muth, Lisa M. Caron (Matt); 7 grandchildren; Tristin, Charles, Cassandra, Cynthia, Chloe, Miles and Max; and her brother Duane Sledzinski (Joan) and her half sister Mary Ann Lorenc (Henry).  She is predeceased by parents Francis Sledzinski and Frances Sledzinski (Slowinski).

Pauline earned her Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Fredonia State University in 1967 and her Masters Degree in Education from Union College.

She spent her life as a loving mother, grandmother, and teacher.  Pauline will be dearly missed and always remembered.  She earned the reputation as being a very tough, creative and ultimately fair teacher and role model.

Pauline’s great passion was teaching, whether it be as a science teacher at Scotia-Glenville Junior High School for nearly 30 years, or as a world-renowned bonsai teacher and world-wide Bonsai conference organizer.  This became her defining role for the second half of her life.  It is that role wherein she traveled all over the world learning and teaching the wonderful art/science of bonsai.  She earned many awards in her dual teaching and organizing careers, the last two being “Bonsai Angel” and American Bonsai Society  “Lifetime Achievement Award". She served as President, Vice President, and secretary of the American Bonsai Society, President of the Mid Atlantic Bonsai Societies, has been on the board of the National Bonsai Foundation, and secretary, treasurer, and executive director of Bonsai Clubs International.

Her studio became one of the great treasures of the bonsai community.  Her husband lovingly built it for her in 2008, next to the home they lived and raised their family in since 1969.  The studio had become the focal point for many activities, most of which started off as focused on bonsai and the Hudson-Mohawk Bonsai Society, but usually ended up being a cornucopia of friends sharing their lives together.

Pauline requested a celebration of life be held in her honor as opposed to a traditional funeral and donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in lieu of flowers. We request all of Pauline’s loved ones to join us in celebrating her beautiful life at her studio the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend 2023 (May 28, 2023) where we can enjoy her work for one last time before they move on to new caretakers.  Thanks to incredible support from club members and friends her trees should be in beautiful condition for this event.