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Genevieve D. (GINA). Gina Minoli passed away peacefully on April 29, 2004, with her son, Walden Leonard Minoli (of Alb.), and her two daughters, Toni Carla Minoli (also of Alb.), and Giselle Suzanne Minoli (of NY City) by her side. Born Genevieve Loretta Dougherty on June 30, 1915 in Albia, Iowa, she was one of six children of John Dougherty and Jenny McGarry. She is pre-deceased by her brothers, Tom and John, and her sisters, Margaret and Lucille, and survived by a younger sister, Mary McInally, of Rock Island, Ill. After moving to Washington, D.C. she met Silvis Anthony Minoli (d. 1959), an architect and pilot with the Civil Air Patrol, when he was teaching her to fly. Wed in West Palm Beach, Fl., Dad said of his bride, "I'm marrying a swell gal from Iowa" and affectionately called her "My Darling Gina." Moving to Nashville, TN before settling permanently in Albuquerque in 1948, they discovered the property on which they would build their home and raise their family (including a menagerie of animals) by flying low over the North Valley. After Dad's death, mother worked at the American Red Cross from 1962 until her retirement in 1980. A tireless political advocate she was Chairwoman of her voting precinct and a faithful champion of the Democratic Party and Common Cause. A passionate enthusiast of the arts - fine arts, dance, the Albuquerque Symphony, the New Mexico Repertory Theatre, Indian and folk art - she was made Chairwoman of Cultural Arts for Ranchos Elementary School. Her love of jewelry inspired her daughter Giselle's work as a jewelry designer. A fierce environmentalist, she had a deep love of nature and a profound and instinctual empathy for animals, welcoming dozens of stray cats and dogs into her home throughout her life. Mother was diagnosed with dementia of the Alzheimer's type in 1997. We are grateful that she has finally been released from the shackles of this terrible disease and would like to thank the wonderful and devoted staff of caregivers at both the St. Joseph Senior Care PACE Program and Laurel Heights, where she resided in the last years of her life. We would particularly like to thank Kathy Minoli, Walden's wife, for her love, wisdom, warmth and support, and for guiding us to the St. Joseph's PACE Program. Very special appreciation is in the memory of Mike Haralson (d. 2003), Toni's long time love, who, with Toni, unselfishly cared for mother at their home. Heartfelt thanks are expressed to Marie Bedford and to all those who have extended their kindness and generosity to our family. Donations may be made in the memory of Gina D. Minoli to the Alzheimer's Association at 8100 Mountain Rd. NE Suite 102 Alb. NM 87110. In lieu of a memorial service, we will plan a celebration of our mother's life at a date to be set in the future. Her lifelong love of music is the inspiration for a program that will bring the benefits of therapeutic music listening to frail elders with dementia. Mother, may your spirit fly free once again with our father's over your beautiful Rio Grande Valley, and may you both dance long in the sun and hard into the night to the rhythm of your favorite song, "Our dreams are getting better all the time." We love you, we will miss you, and we will hold you gently in our hearts always. French Mortuary, Inc. 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400
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