NINA EUOLOGY
Here is the euology for Nina given to her by her sister Michel.
When I first began to think about what I was going to say about my sister my brain was swamped. There is so much to say and so little time. I chose to take the path of least resistance and will begin by describing our path to Norfolk. This is easier for me and won’t employ as much emotion.
Andy and I were talking one day and he asked how Auntie Nina and I got from Massachusetts to Virginia. I guess we had never really explained the whole story of the Cunningham girls to our kids so maybe that’s a good place to start.
Nina and I began our journey together on February 18, 1952 in Westport Massachusetts. My mom went into labor with Nina during a blizzard. My dad wasn’t home so mom told me to pick up our party-line phone and ask for help. The operator’s husband was a fireman so she sent the fire department to get mom to the hospital. I found out years later that Nina’s birth was dangerous for both mom and Nina but they both made it. Thank God for the fire department.
Nina and I grew up in New Bedford Massachusetts. In 1963 our mom and dad split up and mom moved us to Annandale VA where she worked in sales for a credit card imprinter company. This in itself was a landmark move for us with our mom. How many 40-year-old mothers worked in those days let alone supported 2 children at the same time. Our mom was remarkable and Nina took after her. My mom always told us to act like you owned the place and Nina took her at her word. Nina was in Junior High and I was at Annandale High. I graduated in 1965 and came to Norfolk in 66 to go to ODU. Nina graduated in 1970 and she and her boy boyfriend Larry followed me to Norfolk in 1973. We’ve been here ever since.
My sister never met a stranger. Once you met Nina you’d never want to let her go. And, to be honest, she’d never let you go. The reactions to ? my updates and the girls’ Facebook posts over these last 3 months have been overwhelming. She has left a mark on each and every one of us in this room and beyond. She loved you and she loved life. Nina’s sense of humor was one of a kind. When I was so excited to tell her that Ned and I were going to use a diamond ring for our wedding given to me by a friend who passed away ....here is the telephone conversation that ensued.
“Hey Nean guess what?” All excited she said “What Mike” “Ned and I are going to use the ring Judy left me as an engagement/wedding band.” SILENCE on her end...then at the top of her voice “THAT CHEAP S.O.B” I’ve used the initials...she didn’t. Ned and I both laughed till we cried.
That’s our Nina guys. No words can explain how much I miss her. Larry and I spent 2 ½ months by her side watching her improve slowly every day and crying when she slid back a step. As Larry has said many times over these last 3 months Nina was smiling and gracious and never had a cross word for anyone around her over those months. Neither of us expected today to come. We knew the room he was preparing at home would allow her to watch her birds, General Hospital and flowers and take a step outside periodically all under Larry’s watchful eye. Nina was on the mend. The second stroke took all our hopes away. Nina was a fighter but she could fight no more. I adored my sister and she will be my Best Friend Forever,
Mike
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