Winifred A. Brooks Hilsinger Varin ONEONTA – Winifred Varin, age 89, passed away Friday evening, November 4th, 2016, at Chestnut Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility with family by her side. Winnie was born August 14, 1927, to Raymond and Ida (Baker) Brooks in Sharon, CT. Raised in her early years in Pine Plains NY, the family moved to Exeter Center in 1942. She graduated from Richfield Springs Central School in 1944. Winnie married John Hilsinger in 1949 and traveled wherever work took John in New York State. They later settled in West Laurens and raised five children. She lived in Laurens for several years as well as Otego before moving to senior housing in Oneonta. She married Charles Varin in 1999 and they made their home in Cedarville NY until her move to Chestnut Park Nursing Home in Oneonta in November 2014. Winnie worked in the kitchen at SUNY Oneonta, housekeeping at Homer Folks TB Hospital, cooked for a Hartwick College Sorority and Fraternity, was a prep cook at Holiday Inn, an elderly companion for several prominent Oneonta citizens, and a babysitter. Winnie was active in the community – on the citizen’s board of Academy Arms Apartments, past President of the American Legion 616 Ladies Auxiliary, and chaplain of the Am-Vets 777 Ladies Auxiliary. Winnie was a lifelong member of the Exeter Center United Methodist Church. Winnie was the cook and chef of the family. Her holiday Christmas cookies were looked forward to every year by her entire family. Her homemade bread, rolls, and pies were hits among her family, friends and neighbors and at one point she took orders and sold them. Winnie also enjoyed crocheting – making blankets for each of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as well as other family members. She liked doing puzzle books – mainly word searches – and continued to do them until her health declined. Winnie has traveled throughout the US and has visited her children in Oklahoma, California, and Kentucky. She also took a trip to Branson, MO for a music festival. Charlie and Winnie could be found most weekends “honky tonking” to country music and dancing up a storm. Winnie is survived by her husband Charles of Herkimer; her children – Marlene Jones of Richmond, KY; Deborah (Bruce) Eichler of Cathedral City, CA; John (Liz) Hilsinger of Lawton, OK; Valerie Rous (Brian Allmendinger) of Morris, NY; and Jedene (Steven) Fein of Laurens, NY. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren – Naomi, Jared, Hannah, Lucas, Simon, Shannon, Cheyenne, Shana, Marshall, Laura, Adam, and Danielle; and 20 great grandchildren – Davey, Samuel, Rose, Layla, Landen, Amanda, Noah, Timothy, Elisha, Elizabeth, Olivia, Mathew, Skyler, Kortney, Hannah, Trever, Katrina, Elijah, Ivan, and Jaidyn. She is also survived by step children – James (Nancy) McGowan; Chuck (Terri) Varin; Keith (Darlene) Varin; Joe (Debbie) Varin; Cheryl (Scott) Lamphere; Charlene Graham; and Cindy (Jim) Simonds. Her siblings Grace Teletnick, Richard Brooks, and Donald Brooks also survive her, as well as several step grandchildren and step great grandchildren along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Winnie was predeceased by her first husband John Hilsinger; her brothers Raymond Brooks, William Brooks, and Charles Brooks; her sisters Kathryn Allen, Barbara Schultz, Dorothy Lipiec, and Shirley Bahry. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, November 12th at 11 am at the Miller’s Mills Community Baptist Church. Burial will take place in the Cedarville Cemetery at the convenience of the family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, monetary contributions may be made to Chestnut Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Home 330 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY 13820 c/o the Activities Department. The family thanks the Chestnut Park staff for the wonderful care Winnie received during her residency with them. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Harry J. and Kevin E. Enea, Funeral Directors of the Enea Family Funeral Home, 220 N. Washington Street (next to Adirondack Bank), Herkimer, NY 315-866-1011.