Anne Carolyn Nienstedt

Anne Carolyn Nienstedt, née Mackin, passed away January 18, 2020, at the age of 100. She was born November 14, 1919 in Jersey City, N.J. to Michael and Delia Mackin. After the death of her mother, she was lovingly raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. by Laurence O'Toole and Mary Gibbons O'Toole. She graduated Girls' Commercial High School in 1936 as Valedictorian, and met her husband Edward R. Nienstedt on the graduation stage. They fell in love and kept in touch with letters while he was stationed in Puerto Rico during World War II. They were married on February 20, 1943 at St. Teresa's Church in Brooklyn, while Edward was on leave from the Army, and had their honeymoon in New York City. When Edward returned from his tour of duty they went on to settle in Brooklyn, then Queens, and finally Glen Head, N.Y. They had four children, Carol Anne in 1946, Edward Gerard in 1949, Bruce Robert in 1951, and Steven John in 1952. Edward was Vice President of Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company and Anne stayed at home joyfully taking care of the children. On her daily list was laundry, cooking, cleaning, entertaining the little ones, cutting coupons, and making the world's best apple pie. Edward's hard work and Anne's expert saving eventually afforded them a summer home in Wading River, N.Y., where Anne and the children spent their summers, joined by Edward on the weekends for more fun. When the children were grown, Anne and Ed enjoyed their retirement traveling across the country to Elderhostels, and also took many trips abroad to Europe, Russia, Morocco, and many more countries. In between these trips, they spent lots of time with their 16 grandchildren, and eventually, their 34 great-grandchildren. They were happily married for 66 years until Edward passed away in 2009. For almost a decade, Anne was attentively cared for by her devoted companion Dinah Amankwaah, who was instrumental in nursing her back to health many times over the years and kept her very contented in her final days. Anne was predeceased by her siblings Nora, Anthony, James, Martin, and Mary; son Steven (survived by daughter-in-law Lorraine); granddaughter Karolina; and great-grandson Patrick. Anne is also survived by her daughter Carol, son-in-law Tim, son Edward, daughter-in-law Liz, son Bruce and daughter-in-law Maria; grandchildren Timothy, granddaughter-in-law Jennifer, Michael (Alisa), John (Heather), Courtney (David), Erin (Joseph), Meghan (Christopher), Kerry (Michael), Edward, Maximilian, Anne (Richard), Carrie (Robert), Steven (Melissa), Bridget (Michael), Thomas (Anna), and Katelyn (Christopher); great-grandchildren Jordan, Taylor, Devon, Shayne, John, Sophie, Brendan, Joseph, Peter, Liam, Abigail, Emmett, Moira, Andrew, Henry, Duke, Elizabeth, David, Marshall, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Wesley, Wyatt, Steven, Kayla, Emily, Brenna, Meghan, Abigail, Norah, Kara, and Hannah; Carol Whalen whom Anne considered a daughter, and extended family and friends. Anne will be missed deeply and remembered admiringly by all who knew her as a woman of faith, virtue, and strength. May she and Edward, Steven, Karolina, her siblings, family and friends reunite in Heaven and watch over us as they did in life, until we join them in Eternal rest. "Be thankful for the life we shared on earth, surrounded by loving families. God will guide us on our journey to the fullness of happiness with Him in heaven." -Anne Carolyn Nienstedt Fondly written for Grandma by Annie