SHERBURNE – Minnie C. Austin passed away on Nov. 10, 2012 at Chenango Memorial Hospital’s RHCF where she had resided since April due to an ongoing illness. Prior to that, she had resided at the home of her daughter in Sherburne.
The daughter of Catherine (Alcott) and Harry Coleman, Minnie was born Jan. 20, 1923 in Smyrna. She graduated from South Otselic Valley Central School in 1938. Minnie worked at Norwich Knitting Mills and Morton-Norwich Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (later P&G Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) retiring after many years of service. She was united in marriage to Floyd “Dutch” Austin on June 28, 1953 and the family moved to Sherburne. Dutch predeceased her on June 7, 1993.
Minnie enjoyed family gatherings, reunions, camping, fishing, music festivals and travel. She and her late husband travelled extensively to the Western States, Canada and the Adirondacks to camp, fish and sightsee. She also made two trips to Alaska with her daughter and son-in-law to visit relatives and see the wonders of that state. A product of a musical family, she loved music, especially Blue Grass, and attended all the local Blue Grass festivals. She also hosted jam sessions with family and friends at her Sherburne home. She was a member of the Del-Se-Nango musical group and enjoyed bus trips with them, as well as activities and dances at their location in McDonough.
Surviving are her daughter, L. Joanne French of Sherburne; grandchildren, Matthew S. (Lenny Sue) French of Greensboro, NC; Timothy C. (Christine) French of Windsor, CT; Cynthia L. (David) Newbauer-Price of Norwich; Laurie A. Price and her fiancé Dave Hooker of Sherburne; great-grandchildren, Lane and Ethan French of NC; Sosie, Logan and Ryan French of CT; Nicole Newbauer, Andrew Price of Norwich; son-in-law, Stephen C. Price of Sherburne; brother-in-law, Robert (Sue) Austin of Murray, KY; and several step-nieces and nephews, many cousins and friends. Minnie was predeceased by her parents, husband, Floyd, daughter, Joyce A. Price, brothers, Donald Coleman and his wife, Ruth, Stanley Coleman, several brothers- and sisters-in-law and their spouses.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home in Sherburne, followed by interment in West Hill Cemetery, Sherburne.
Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Saturday from noon until 2 p.m. prior to the service.
Memorial contributions in Minnie’s name may be made to the Chenango County SPCA, or to the Chenango County Historical Society.
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online, go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.