Alma Slade

Entrepreneur and business owner Alma Slade, 86, died Thursday, November 1st. Alma was born in Everett, MA on April 11, 1932. Alma’s father was an economist, with the rank of diplomat, and so, she lived abroad with her family in Rome, Paris, and Puerto Rico. Her family finally settled in Arlington, VA, where she attended Marymount College. In 1951 she married Joseph A. Slade and a short time later moved to Bridgeport, CT where she raised her family and later developed a career in textiles and design.

As a young mother, she sewed drapes at home for the business known as The Barn. In 1978 Alma bought The Barn from the original owner Milton Lieff. She had a considerable talent for business and quickly developed it into a well- known textile and design center. Her store advertised in The New York Times, Architectural Digest and Yankee Magazine. People came from all over the eastern U. S. seeking her beautiful fabrics and stunning design vision. Admiring articles were written about her.

A woman of many interests, Alma was passionate about reading, gardening, art, design, cooking, travel, and, of course, her family. She will be lovingly remembered not only by family, friends and customers, but also by the many individuals who she so generously helped.

She is predeceased by her father Biagio DiVenuti, mother Berenice Marks DiVenuti, and son Joseph F. Slade, III. She is survived by daughters Carol Slade and Veronica “Ronnie” Slade [ wife Lisa Schultz], sister Susan Eberhard [ husband John Eberhard], grandsons Joseph Slade, IV [ wife Kimberly Pacho- Slade] and Andy Slade [ wife Alexa Krueger], and great granddaughter Charlotte Rose Pacho- Slade.

A memorial mass will be held Saturday, November 10 at 1 p. m. at St. George Catholic Church, 33 Whitfield St.