Elizabeth Wing Barnick Mary

Mary Elizabeth Wing Barnick, loving wife, mother and grandmother, age 94, (but forever 39) formerly of Ovid passed away at Seneca Nursing and Rehab on Monday, March 30, 2015.

The family will be present to receive friends from 10:00am to Noon on Monday, April 6, 2015 at Covert Funeral Home, 7199 So. Main Street, Ovid. A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00pm on Monday, April 6, 2015 at Christ Episcopal Church, 1392 Main Street, Willard. Prayers of Committal will follow in Ovid Union Cemetery. The family asks those that would like to make a contribution in Mary’s memory to kindly consider Christ Episcopal Church, the American Cancer Society, the gift of volunteering at Seneca or another nursing home, or the charity of ones choosing. But we especially ask that you demonstrate acts of kindness, warmth, and generosity to others which Mary did routinely. With Mary, acts of kindness were not random, but a way of life.

Mary was born in Cortland on January 19, 1921, a daughter of the late Charles and Mona (Huntley) Wing. After moving to Ovid from Cortland with her family in the mid-sixties she worked and retired from the Willard Psychiatric Center. Mary and husband John took their ‘once in lifetime trip,’ visiting relatives in San Francisco followed by vacationing in Hawaii. After retiring she wrote a weekly column for the Ovid Gazette for several years, was active at the Christ Episcopal Church, enjoyed some gardening, cardinals visiting her bird feeders, and her friends but most enjoyed caring for and frequently spoiling her cherished grandchildren. In addition to her kindness and loving ways she was known as a meticulous housekeeper and outstanding cook, who also took tremendous pride in her personal appearance.
She believed that cleanliness was next to godliness making certain her children and grandchildren were hygienically clean even if it meant some pretty hearty scrubbing. After her physical condition necessitated her residency at Seneca, she maintained her positive and cheerful nature by becoming the centers greeter, resident president, and fully participating in all activities. She greatly enjoyed the new friendships she formed there.

The family would like to most especially express its heartfelt thanks to the many wonderful and caring staff at Seneca, with a special acknowledgement to the B wing staff.

Mary is survived by a son, David (Delaine George) Barnick of Ovid; four grandchildren, Kerry (Thomas) Rodriguez of Herndon, VA, David Barnick of Sacramento, CA, Raymond (Jodi) Zajac Jr of Interlaken, and Steve (Kim) Zajac, of Lodi; eight great grandchildren, Trey, Tracey, John, Shade, Gemini, Michael, Michelle, and July Patricia; one great-great grandchild, Dominico; brother, Robert Wing of Cortland; sister, Nancy Griffiths of FL; son in law, Raymond Zajac Sr.; and a very special niece, Barbie and most special friend Jackie Doran. In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, John Barnick in 1999; a daughter, Judy Zajac in 1996, daughter-in-law Patricia in 2004 and a granddaughter, Renee Zajac.

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