CENTERVILLE — Winifred C. Jones, 81, of Centerville, died Sunday, July 18, 2010, due to complications attributed to Alzheimer's disease.
She was the beloved wife of Gordon V. Jones for 53 years, devoted mother of Melissa Karrer and mother-in-law to Christoph Karrer of Huntington, New York, and loving grandmother of Nicholas & Douglas Marotta & Keith Karrer.
She was predeceased by her sister Rachael Malick, of Stevens Point, Wis. She is survived by her brother David Church and his wife, Joyce, of Plover, Wis., sister Lorraine Schank of Oxford, N.Y., brother-in-law Kenneth Schank of Port Charlotte, Fla. and sister Carol Bilhorn and her husband William, of San Juan Capistrano, Calif. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Born September 20, 1928, in Stevens Point, Wis., Winnie was the daughter of the late Clarence and Edna Church. She grew up in Stevens Point and graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a B.A. degree, and furthered her education at Andover Newton Seminary, where she received the Master of Divinity, and then continued studies at Drew University.
Winnie and her husband, Gordon adopted a baby girl, whom they named Melissa in 1962 and lived in Brattleboro, Vt. until 1965, when they relocated to East Longmeadow, Mass., and subsequently to Wilbraham. At the United Church of Christ in Wilbraham, Winnie was ordained, and shined in her ministry as the Minister of Christian Education, and made lifelong friends. She served as Interim Minister at the Congregational Church in Pittsfield, Mass., then became the Senior Minister for the Congregational Church in Berlin, Mass.
Upon leaving Berlin, Winnie settled in Centerville in 1990 with Gordon to enjoy their passion for Cape Cod, and she became Interim Minister at Somerset Congregational Church, in Somerset, Mass. Her final role in the ministry was Minister of Visitation at Pilgrim Church in Duxbury, also in Mass.
Winnie loved to explore the Cape with her husband, travel abroad , listen to classical music, take camping & canoeing trips to Vermont & Maine, entertain, garden, read and spend time with her family. One of her favorite vacation spots was Wind & Wave Cottages in North Truro. Winnie took a special joy in the ocean, and spent countless hours over the years walking the beaches, picking up shells, swimming and marveling at the majesty of how the sea would cast lights, scents and sounds to create a mood that only the ocean can do. The magic of the Cape was part of her being.
A memorial and celebration of her life will be held in September, in Centerville, at the South Congregational Church, 565 Main St. Centerville MA.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made in Winnie's memory to the Alzheimer's Services of Cape Cod & The Islands, Inc., 712 Main St., Hyannis, MA 02601.
Cape Cod Times