Obituary of Carolyn B. Minard

B>Carolyn B. Minard Carolyn Elinor Brooker Minard, 69, of the Town of Wappinger entered into rest Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at St. Francis Hospital, Poughkeepsie after a brief illness. Mrs. Minard lived at the family farm in Shenandoah, East Fishkill as a young girl and attended a one room schoolhouse before moving to the Village of Fishkill in 1947. Upon her first marriage she relocated to Beacon where she resided from 1958-1980 and 1991-1993. She returned to Fishkill from 1980-1984. She lived in Cold Spring from 1984-1991 and has been a Wappingers Falls resident since 1993. Born April 19, 1938 at Vassar Hospital in Poughkeepsie, she was a daughter of Russell J., Sr. & Eda Knapp Brooker. Her grandparents were Leslie H. & Jennie Van Keuren Brooker and Dedrick R., Sr. and Elinor O'Donnell Knapp. She married first Richard E. "Dick" Robinson August 10, 1958 at the Bethel Baptist Church, Shenandoah. They later divorced in 1976. Her former husband survives in Zephyrhills, Fl. She subsequently married William Minard, Jr. July 20, 1993 at the First Presbyterian Church, Beacon. Her husband survives at home in Wappingers Falls. Carolyn was a 1955 graduate of Wappingers Central Schools and attended Delhi College. She was also a graduate of Krissler Business Institute, Poughkeepsie. During her younger years she was employed as an assistant dietician for Northern Dutchess Hospital Rhinebeck, a dental assistant for Dr. Marx Poughkeepsie and a kitchen worker for the Beacon City School District. She later was a health aide for the former Craig House Center, Beacon, retiring in 2000 after 26 years of service. Mrs. Minard was a past vice president of the PTA at Sargent School, Beacon, a former Cub Scout den mother, past member of the Mt. Beacon Ski Club and Eastern Ski Association. She sang in the choir and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Beacon. She especially enjoyed homemaking, gardening, birds and her family. In addition to her husbands, Carolyn is survived by three sons, David E. Robinson and wife Laura J. of Doylestown, Pa and Londonderry, Vt, Douglas J. Robinson and wife Corinne M. of Jacksonville, Fl and Daniel R. Robinson of Fort Plain, Montgomery County, NY; a daughter Janine Lyn McQueen and husband Michael D. of Beacon; step-children William T. & Nina Minard both of Poughkeepsie and Steven Minard of Wappingers Falls; her brother, R. James Brooker, Jr. and wife Sandra J. of Westbrook, Me; a sister, Laurie G. Muro and husband Peter J. of Lake Ariel, Pa; an uncle D. Robert Knapp, Jr. of Deland, Fl; five grandchildren, Kasey, Mary Jane and Samantha Robinson all of Doylestown, Pa. and Reese and Austin McQueen both of Beacon; several step-grandchildren including Shawn & Michael J. McQueen and Leslie & Brian LaForge as well as four step-great grandchildren; three nephews, Dennis and Dale Brooker and Kevin Muro; six nieces, Dona Magro, Karen Taylor, Deborah Singler, Diana Mirra, Kristina DeBernadinus, and Christina Genesky; twenty great-nieces and nephews and five cousins. She was predeceased by her mother Christmas Eve 2005 and her father June 18, 2007 and an uncle Donald F. Knapp in 1996. The family will receive friends from 2:30 to 5 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2008 at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations on Carolyn's behalf may be made to Hospice, 374 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. To send the family a personal condolence or for directions to the funeral home, please visit www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.