COOPERSTOWN - Barbara Emma Ives Mook, 89, died Tuesday, October 18, 2011, at the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home, surrounded by her family.
She was predeceased by her husband, William H. Mook III. She is survived by her six children, Barbara Richards and her husband, Rob, of Mystic, Connecticut, Carolyn Mook of Cooperstown, Anne Frost and her husband, Chris, of Dobbs Ferry, Cleo Mook and her husband, Peter Collopy, of Troy, William H. Mook and his wife, Karen (Corwin) of Sheepscott, Maine, and Georgia Cosgrove and her husband, Sean, of Duxbury, Massachusetts. In addition she leaves nineteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Bobbie was born in Walton July 27, 1922. She was educated in a one-room schoolhouse, entering high school at the age of 11 and graduating at 15. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a nurse and received a full scholarship to nursing school at Columbia Presbyterian Medical School, which she had to defer until 1940 because she was so young. During her third year of nursing school, she met Bill, her husband of 64 years. They were married on October 9, 1943, and shortly after she began her first job as a licensed Registered Nurse, working as a visiting nurse for the Henry Street Visiting Nurse Service (later the Visiting Nurse Service of New York). She worked with low income families and recent immigrants, primarily serving new mothers and women with high risk pregnancies. She often reminisced about the valuable life lessons gained from practicing good nursing under the challenging conditions she often found in the homes she visited.
In 1944 Bobbie and Bill began their long life in Cooperstown. Bobbie was first and foremost a wonderful mother, and she was known and admired for her unflagging energy, many talents, and wide-ranging interests. She worked tirelessly to provide a rich family life. Bobbie came from a family of self-taught musicians and artisans and carried their legacy forward, passing that creative spirit on to her children and grandchildren. Bobbie and her husband, Bill, shared a love of jazz and were a striking couple on the dance floor. Bobbie loved singing and participated in many different singing groups, from barber shop quartets to oratorio choruses. She was an avid gardener, serving as president of the Lake and Valley Garden Club.
In 1960 she resumed her career, first as a visiting nurse and later as a nurse in various departments at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital. After retiring from nursing in the late 1970s she became a partner in The Market Place, a specialty food store, with her daughter Cleo. In addition, she volunteered for many blood drives and blood pressure clinics and served on the board of the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home. At the time of her death, Bobbie was the oldest member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown where she had been a trustee and active member of the congregation for many years.
After Bill's retirement, Bobbie and Bill enjoyed extensive travel and spent many happy hours with family and friends at their camp on Lake Otsego. Bobbie was the anchor for her large family, and her children and grandchildren treasure the memories of their returns to Cooperstown for holidays and special occasions, celebrated with lovingly prepared feasts and festivities.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Bobbie's life will be held at 11 am on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, with the Rev. Elsie A. Rhodes, pastor, officiating. A gathering of friends and family will follow the service.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home, 48 Grove Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
She was predeceased by her husband, William H. Mook III. She is survived by her six children, Barbara Richards and her husband, Rob, of Mystic, Connecticut, Carolyn Mook of Cooperstown, Anne Frost and her husband, Chris, of Dobbs Ferry, Cleo Mook and her husband, Peter Collopy, of Troy, William H. Mook and his wife, Karen (Corwin) of Sheepscott, Maine, and Georgia Cosgrove and her husband, Sean, of Duxbury, Massachusetts. In addition she leaves nineteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Bobbie was born in Walton July 27, 1922. She was educated in a one-room schoolhouse, entering high school at the age of 11 and graduating at 15. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a nurse and received a full scholarship to nursing school at Columbia Presbyterian Medical School, which she had to defer until 1940 because she was so young. During her third year of nursing school, she met Bill, her husband of 64 years. They were married on October 9, 1943, and shortly after she began her first job as a licensed Registered Nurse, working as a visiting nurse for the Henry Street Visiting Nurse Service (later the Visiting Nurse Service of New York). She worked with low income families and recent immigrants, primarily serving new mothers and women with high risk pregnancies. She often reminisced about the valuable life lessons gained from practicing good nursing under the challenging conditions she often found in the homes she visited.
In 1944 Bobbie and Bill began their long life in Cooperstown. Bobbie was first and foremost a wonderful mother, and she was known and admired for her unflagging energy, many talents, and wide-ranging interests. She worked tirelessly to provide a rich family life. Bobbie came from a family of self-taught musicians and artisans and carried their legacy forward, passing that creative spirit on to her children and grandchildren. Bobbie and her husband, Bill, shared a love of jazz and were a striking couple on the dance floor. Bobbie loved singing and participated in many different singing groups, from barber shop quartets to oratorio choruses. She was an avid gardener, serving as president of the Lake and Valley Garden Club.
In 1960 she resumed her career, first as a visiting nurse and later as a nurse in various departments at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital. After retiring from nursing in the late 1970s she became a partner in The Market Place, a specialty food store, with her daughter Cleo. In addition, she volunteered for many blood drives and blood pressure clinics and served on the board of the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home. At the time of her death, Bobbie was the oldest member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown where she had been a trustee and active member of the congregation for many years.
After Bill's retirement, Bobbie and Bill enjoyed extensive travel and spent many happy hours with family and friends at their camp on Lake Otsego. Bobbie was the anchor for her large family, and her children and grandchildren treasure the memories of their returns to Cooperstown for holidays and special occasions, celebrated with lovingly prepared feasts and festivities.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Bobbie's life will be held at 11 am on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, with the Rev. Elsie A. Rhodes, pastor, officiating. A gathering of friends and family will follow the service.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home, 48 Grove Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.
