Minerva Ramos Binaco

A Woman Of Great Love And Many Talents

Minerva “Minnie” Ramos Binaco, 95, of Newtown, died November 4. Mrs Binaco was born February 12, 1916, in Barranquilla, Colombia. She was the daughter of Hermelinda Bernales and Moses Ramos, and one of five siblings, all passed.

She met her husband, Morris, in Panama, where she worked in her uncle’s tailor shop and he was assigned to the US Army Air Corps in the Panama Canal Zone. Mrs Binaco lived in many localities due to her husband’s military career. At each assignment, including California, Montana, Washington, Hawaii, and New Jersey, she made a “home” for her family. She also developed numerous lifelong companions, in a large part due to her gregarious personality. She was very close to her extended family, including the Ramos family, who live in Colombia, Miami, Florida, and Patterson, N.J.

Mrs Binaco became a naturalized US citizen soon after coming to this country. Although she took pride in both her Spanish heritage and her country of birth, she was a proud American, who loved her new country.

She was an intelligent, athletic, artful, and sensitive woman. In her youth, she was a long distance runner and very much enjoyed her athletic endeavors. She was a skilled seamstress, able to duplicate dresses and other apparel by looking at an item and sewing from memory. Her daughters can attest to the numerous times she made beautiful clothes for them. Mrs Binaco was also very skilled in knitting and crochet, and other needle and handcrafts.

Mrs Binaco was a phenomenal dancer. On family gatherings, and other related occasions, her family and friends desired to have at least one dance with her before the evening ended.

She was a dedicated homemaker, raising seven children. She also worked at a military exchange in New Jersey for many years. She was a devout Catholic who prayed for her family on a daily basis. She understood the importance of education and encouraged her children to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in college.

Mrs Binaco is survived by four sons and two daughters: Morris Anthony, Thomas Steven, William Xavier, Christopher John, Joan Ann Bandura, and Barbara Jean Jones. Fourteen grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews also survive her. She was preceded in death by her husband; her daughter Phyllis Virginia Harrison; her granddaughter Danielle Edwards; and her grandson Mark E. Binaco.

A visitation will be held from 9:45 to 10:30 am, Friday, November 18, at St Joan of Arc Church, 100 Willow Bend Road, Marlton, N.J. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am, Friday, November 18, at the church. She will be interned with her husband at the General W.C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery in Wrightstown, N.J.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton at www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org, in memory of Minerva Binaco.

The Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, is assisting the family.

The Newtown Bee      November 11, 2011