SOUTH NEW BERLIN – Mina Mae Magacs, 85, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Clearwater, Fla.
She was born on March 5, 1926, in South New Berlin, the daughter of James and Mina (Dyer) Wild. Mina Mae grew up in South New Berlin, one of four members of the Class of 1943.
After high school, Mina Mae headed to New York City, where she graduated from Katherine Gibbs secretarial school. She enjoyed working as a secretary for Time magazine, and in the College of Engineering at Cornell University, in Ithaca.
Cornell is where she met Andrew (Andy) Magacs, and they were married on October 2, 1949, in South New Berlin. They lived in Herkimer for a time, and eventually returned to South New Berlin to take over operation of Wild’s Greenhouses, the florist business founded by her parents. They ran the greenhouses for decades, until Andy became a USPS rural route mail carrier. After they retired, Andy and Mina Mae moved to Clearwater, Fla. to live with their daughter, Lori.
Mina Mae was predeceased by her husband in 2006. She is survived by four loving children, Jim Magacs and his wife Regina, of Binghamton, Craig Magacs of Greene, Cindy Hutchinson of South New Berlin, and Lori Magacs of Clearwater, Fla. She also leaves behind grandchildren who will miss her very much: Andrea and Noel Eisley, of Wappingers Falls, Hilary Magacs of Greenville, N.C., Casper Magacs of Binghamton, and Sarah, Frederick, Emily and Jacqueline Hutchinson of South New Berlin. Two great-grandsons were the apple of her eye, as well: Nathaniel and Bennett Eisley, of Wappingers Falls. Also surviving is Mina Mae’s cousin, Vivian (Dyer) Wilson of Deland, Fla. Mina Mae loved animals and leaves behind three dogs: Lottie, Molly and Addie, and two cats: Rose and Lucy. They will miss her lap very much!
Mina Mae will be remembered as a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, whose knitted sweaters and scarves kept her family warm each winter. Her sense of humor and dedication to her family is a great part of what has made them grow to be the people they are today. She also was an avid crossword puzzler. She loved to hang her wash on the clothesline, because it made the clothes smell so fresh. Her grandchildren loved having a bowl of oatmeal with Grandma when she visited from Florida. Never to be forgotten will be the wonderful Thanksgivings, with the elegantly set table, the many, many delicious pies for dessert, the hilarious dictionary game, and the end of the evening Christmas carols, with Mina Mae at the piano. Her smile will live on in each of us.
Even at 85 years of age she was an avid user of video chat and was able to attend and enjoy many family gatherings as if she were there. Jell Ginger cookies from Cooperstown were one of her favorite and always seemed to be a miracle cure for anything and helped to substantiate a claim from one of her doctors that she was a “walking miracle of modern technology.”
Friends and family are welcome to calling hours for Mina Mae, which will be held at the Dakin Funeral Home, in New Berlin, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Dakin Funeral Home, with her final resting place being with her parents and husband in Maplewood Cemetery, Mt. Upton.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at the funeral home’s website, www.dakinfuneralhome.com.