Nadine Mink
Age - 84
November 22, 2023
I always referred to a funeral service as this is your life, and that is what I am writing for myself with all the people that have shared my journey with me, and meant so much.
I was born April 24, 1939 in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, the only child of the late Raymond William Johnson and Lillian McGrane Johnson. My parents moved to Albany when I was just six months old and resided at 152 Central Avenue, formerly Fred Dascher's Funeral Home, where I spent many happy days. My first friends were Lee and Wayne Jones. I went to school at Our Lady of Angels and then went on to Holy Names Academy and Albany Medical Practical Nursing School.
In 1961 I met the love of my life, Thomas William Mink, with whom I shared 22 short years with. I was 43 and he was 47 in 1983. The early years were full raising five children. I loved cooking, decorating and my husband and I loved garage sales.
Tom and I were the loving parents of Thomas (Sue) Mink of Colonie, Tim (Karen) Mink of Valatie, Michael Joseph Mink and hopefully waiting for me my angel Mary, my son Todd, and daughter Christine. I've missed them so much. Amy has been a great help to me. Then my grandchildren started coming, Corey (Julie) Mink Jacksonville Fla. , Tarah (Frank) Maxwell of Wynantskill, Alicia and Jessica Mink and Carter Mink. Then came the great grandchildren Alletta and Frankie Maxwell and Olivia and Charlotte Mink.
My heartfelt thanks to my many wonderful lifetime friends. We are only a very small number now. My buddy Fran Blaine and daughters. Denice John Stangle (Menands), Terry Eric Thomson, Phyllis Hedgeman Jacobson (Colonie), Roberta Seiden and daughter Terri and John O'Keefe. Also, not too long-ago, losing Joyce Marshall Beaudette who was such a dear friend. But she left me with my godchild Nancy Ashline and sister Jean Delano.
As an only child I always wanted brothers and sisters. I hit the jackpot with 7 sisters in laws and 4 brothers in laws. Pat Judge (Latham) so special Joan Bucci Cavanaugh deceased, I miss her so much. Norma (Joseph) Rizzo of Latham, Mary (Michael) Geraci, Kathy (Tom) Berghela of Troy, Marge Buhler of Texas deceased, Eileen (Dick) Nelson of Saratoga, Robert (Mary Malone) of Albany, Michael (Denice) Mink of Greenville, and Paul (Sally) Mink of Florida.
Of course, with that many in laws come a whole bunch of nieces and nephews, just too many to list but I love you all. We all had fun over the years and used any excuse to get together. We had St Patrick's Day at my house and for Easter we took turns. Those parties meant the whole bunch showing up. My husband used to say, kidding of course, we have windows along our long driveway so open one and hand them a coffee, donut and say smile for the camera. Ha!
Life takes us in so many directions. We start off with school friends, get married and add more friends from both my husband's life and mine and because of that we stuck together all these years. Now as I write this only three of us are left. My world caved in when I lost my husband, and I was left alone on life's road. As time went on I met new friends and, over the years, most of them have passed away too. Even though I miss them all, I was lucky to have lived long enough to have known all of them. Before the Colonie Lodge closed a group of us started a coffee clutch at Columbia Crest Senior Housing. Most of the nine of us lived close to each other. In time a few passed and then Covid hit and no one got together much. On occasion, when we could get out, I enjoyed getting together with so many nice people whom I called friends, at Joan Slingerland's house, Carolyn, Marie, Jeanie, Linda Karanjian, Fran R, Helen, and Phyllis Murphy and so many more. It's been such fun stopping in and you know I loved to talk. That's why I said the service is like my life.
There are a few more people from East Greenbush where I worked for a family for so many years. My friends Linda (Victor deceased) Guth, Patty (Bill) and Gayle Loik, Margaret Geraci and sister Doris P. my once-a-month dinner club. I loved your friendship.
My children, the real spine of my life, have followed their lives in different directions and my grandchildren and great grandchildren live all over the place. I love them all so much. I watched "Blue Bloods" and wish we get together as they do, but today life is so different than it used to be.
Lastly we come to my senior years which brought with it a whole new group of friends. It started with joining the Colonie Elks 21 years ago and kind of falling into running Miracles. It was for challenged people of all ages. People often asked me if it was difficult for me to work with them and I replied that I was the lucky one to bring happiness once a month with music and food into their lives. When I looked at the kids in their wheelchairs and living with such broken bodies and saw them smiling and so happy, I'd say they gave to me far more than I did them.
I would like to thank Dr. Siddharth for his compassion and care and Vince from Bowen & Parker Brothers for coming to my home and helping me with my arrangements.
Well my family and friends, I just want you to know that I'm taking you all with me somewhere over the rainbow where someday we will meet again and you should know that I enjoyed and will always cherish each and every one of you.
Love,
Mom, Grandma, and friend Nadine
My friend, Father John Bradley, will offer a prayer service on Saturday, November 25th 2023at 9 am in the Bowen & Parker Brothers Funeral Home located at 97 Old Loudon Road in Latham. Interment will follow in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Colonie. There will be no visiting hours prior to the service and it is suggested that for those who wish to remember me in a special way do so by sending a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, https://www. stjude. org or Operation Smile, https://www. operationsmile. org in lieu of customary remembrances.Show more