ROBBINSTON – Bessie Gertrude Mingo, 100, passed away peacefully Monday, April 5, 2010, at Atlantic Rehab & Living Center, Calais. Bessie was born Oct. 16, 1909, in Robbinston, daughter of the late Michael and Ellen (Bohanon) Greenlaw. After graduating high school in Red Beach, she went on to become a registered nurse at Calais Hospital, Class of 1936. Bessie continued to work at Calais Hospital for many years until she left to raise her children. During this time she lived on the John Miner Farm, Robbinston, where she and her husband operated a dairy farm, as well as beef cattle and sheep. Once the children became older, Bessie worked in local sardine factories in Robbinston until her retirement. During retirement, she helped raise four of her grandchildren. Bessie enjoyed cooking, knitting and she took great pride in growing her flower gardens. She was an avid Red Sox fan, and her greatest thrill later in her life was watching them win two World Series championships. Her most memorable moments were of those spent at Nash’s Lake with family and friends. She was fondly known as nana to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and took pride in boasting of their many accomplishments. She never cussed, unless she told you to “go fry ice” if she disagreed with you, and would never have a bad word to say about anyone. In addition to her parents, Bessie was predeceased by her loving husband, Richard J. Mingo; four sisters, Kay Gayton and her husband, John, Phyllis Cook and her husband, Theo, Libby Greenlaw and Charlotte Greenlaw; a great-granddaughter, Jodi Gerow; and her dear friend, Marion Chisholm. She will be greatly missed by her surviving children, Alden Mingo and his wife, Donna, of Robbinston and Barbara Lincoln and her husband, Stephen, of Accord, N.Y.; seven grandchildren, Jo-Ann Mingo of Albany, N.Y., Karen Gorman and her husband, Gary, of Rehoboth, Mass., Richard Mingo and his wife, Susan, of Robbinston, Arthur Mingo and his wife, Sonja, of Calais, Lisa Gerow and her husband, Kenneth, of Moncup Valley, N.Y., David Lincoln of Albany, N.Y., and Stephanie Lincoln of Accord, N.Y.; nine great-grandchildren, Lindsey, Jacqui, Mitchel and Evan Mingo, Kaylee Lincoln, Natashia Lincoln and David Lincoln Jr., Jason and Josh Gerow; one great-great-granddaughter, Jaiden Lincoln; many nieces and nephews; special friends, Irene Diffin and Bea Pulk; and many friends. A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 29, at Red Beach Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request donations be made in Bessie’s name to Calais Recreation Department, P.O. Box 413, Calais, ME 04619. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home, Calais and Eastport. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.maysfuneralhome.com.
BESSIE G. MINGO
