Obituary of Verna M. Bink

With deep love and sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, Verna Bink, who left this world peacefully at the age of 87, in the presence of family and friends at home on September 4, 2025. Verna was a remarkable woman, deeply loved and full of life and warmth.

Verna was preceded in death by her loving husband, William (“Bill”), in 1991. Their marriage was one of deep and abiding love — a true partnership rooted in devotion and mutual admiration. She never stopped missing him, and her faith in Jesus Christ gave her peace as she looked forward to being reunited with him in eternity.

In the small country town of Johnsonville, NY, Verna and Bill raised six children — Patrick (Barbara), Clayton (Phyllis), Theresa (Jesse Rowe), Nathan (Annabelle), Daniel (Gabriela), and Benjamin (Brandie) — with tireless love and strength. She also carried in her heart the memory of two children lost too soon: one at childbirth (Sally) and one to SIDS (Billy). She was also predeceased by her mother (Jeannette), father (Clayton), brother (Clayton), and her sister (Elizabeth), whose memories she cherished.

She is survived by her six children, 15 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, each of whom carry forward her legacy of love, faith, and kindness. Verna will be remembered for her joyful attitude, creative spirit, quiet convictions, and steadfast devotion to her family and to her Savior.

Verna spent her final years in the devoted care of her daughter Theresa, who lovingly supported her through ongoing health challenges over the past few years. The brothers are deeply indebted to their angel of a sister for her unwavering sacrifice to enable mom to be home during her last years.

A generous woman of many talents, Verna enriched the lives of those around her through her cooking, baking, gardening, quilting, cross-stitching, and pottery. Her baking brought her blue ribbons at the country fair! Mom will always be remembered for her delicious meals and mouth-watering desserts! She loved to read, anything and everything, and when she was unable to read, she loved it when Theresa would read to her. She had a lifelong love for poetry, especially the works of Robert Service, and she delighted in reciting many of them, with her favorites being, “The Spell of the Yukon” and “Mongrel”. Bill inspired her love of poetry, and listening to him recite Service’s poems around the kitchen table was one of her greatest joys.

Sharp-minded, she loved to play cards and dice games and was very good at them. Her playing brought fun and laughter to our family gatherings. She often included a joke in our conversations.

Verna also cherished every moment with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and their visits always filled her with much joy. She would often be filled with much excitement when she heard that family or friend was coming to visit.

Beyond her role as a mother and homemaker, Verna also gave several years of her life to caring for her aging father while living in Florida, before returning to her home in Troy, NY.

One of Verna’s first jobs was working at the Miami Serpentarium but left soon after the iguanas surrounded her and tried to eat the flowery dress she was wearing! Her favorite job was working as a librarian in Schaghticoke, NY, where she especially loved spending time with the children who visited the library, and celebrating Dr. Seuss Day. Having children around always brought her great joy.

Verna will be deeply missed and forever cherished.

There will be a memorial service at Hoosic Valley Community Church, located at 2024 NY-40, Schaghticoke NY 12154, on Saturday, October 11^th, 2025 at 11:00AM.

If you wish to make a contribution, please consider donating to your local library in honor of Verna's love of reading and learning.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted by the family to the John J. Sanvidge Funeral Home, Inc., 565 Fourth Avenue, Troy, NY 12182. 

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