Rachel Mead

Rachel  Mead of Conklin      Rachel Mead, 76, went home to the Lord, Wednesday, February 23, 2011. Rachel was born on January 9, 1935.   She was raised along with her sister and four brothers in Uniondale Pennsylvania where she graduated from Pleasant Mount High School.  Rachel married Wayne Mead on September 22 1956, and enjoyed 29 years together prior to his passing on February 16th 1985. Wayne and Rachel raised their 5 children in Conklin, N.Y. She was a loving wife and devoted mother not only to her own children but to all the neighborhood kids as well. She blessed all our lives with her very giving nature and immeasurable strength throughout all the stages of her life.  She suffered a stroke in May of 1974 and was left with the unfortunate inability to speak very well.  Even so, through that difficulty she was able to say “I LOVE YOU” fluently showing how much she cared for all those around her.  Rachel had a very hard life due to the stroke, but you would never know it by the way she lived. She never felt sorry for herself and always thought about everyone else before herself.   She was a very selfless, compassionate, and caring person that was loved by so many people.  We all were truly blessed to have had her in our lives. She was a wife, a mother, a sister, an aunt and a very dear friend to many and will be deeply missed.  She had a very strong faith in God and now is an angel in heaven.  We have many cherished and precious memories that we hold very dear to us. Keep a song in your heart for Rachel.       She was predeceased by her parents, Harold and Pauline Bennett, brother, Lester “Wayne” Bennett and twin brother, Robert Bennett. Rachel is survived by her children, David and Angela Mead, Conklin, Bill and Denise Mead, Conklin, Barbara and Randy Martin, Greene, Sandy and Jim Tocyloski, St. Paul, Minn., Julie and Andre Opela, Hawleyton. She leaves behind fourteen treasured grandchildren; Michael, Nikki, Eddie, Keri, Ryan, Eric, Ryan, David, Hailey, Alicia, Jamie, Jason, Shannon and Dustin, two great-grandchildren, Aiden and Nate, brothers, Harold “Ken” and Nora Bennett, Miami, Fla., and Richard and Helen Bennett, Binghamton, sister, Esther and Hobie Davis, Fort Pierce, Fla., sisters-in-law, Florence Bennett, Montrose and Gaynelle Bennett, Conklin.     The family wishes to extend their thanks to the caring staff of Willow Point Nursing Home where Rachel resided for the past seven years.      Funeral services in celebration of Rachel’s life will be held 11:00 am, Tuesday, March 1, 2011, at the Hawleyton United Methodist Church, 901 Hawleyton Road, Binghamton with the Reverend William Puckey officiating. Interment will be in Conklin Cemetery in the spring. Family will receive friends from 4:00 until 7:00 pm, Monday, February 28, 2011 at the DeMunn Funeral Home, 36 Conklin Avenue, Binghamton. Memorial contributions in Rachel’s name may be made to the American Stroke Association, PO Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005. To forward condolences, create or view video tributes please visit www.demunnfh.com.