Obituary of Nancy Ellen Binder

NANCY BINDER

COHOES - Nancy Ellen (Anolick) Binder, 72, of Cohoes, beloved wife of 46 years to Michael Binder, passed away at home on Wednesday, November 29th, 2023, surrounded by her loving family after a long and courageous battle with gall bladder cancer.

Born in Brooklyn, NY on October 20, 1951, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Susan (Tumarkin) Anolick. She grew up on Long Island, where she enjoyed participating in local dances around Bethpage and attended and graduated from Plainedge High School in 1969. Nancy took the first step on her journey Upstate when she went to college at SUNY New Paltz, taking advantage of the music and art of the times before obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973.

A favorite memory of Nancy's was spending her summer after college graduation backpacking across Europe with one of her girlfriends. After returning from Europe, she drove from Long Island to spend an intrepid semester teaching in Monterrey, Mexico.

Not long after coming back, Nancy started a new adventure when she met Mike on a fateful evening in July 1976 at the Salty Dog on Hempstead Turnpike. A second date at Rye Playland helped cement a lifelong loving and supportive companionship. They were engaged in Toronto on Nancy's birthday and married on April 17, 1977.

Nancy and Mike lived for a time in Bayside, Queens, where they welcomed Andrew into the world. Shortly after Andrew was born, Nancy took the next step of her journey Upstate, as the three of them left Queens for good and settled in the Capital Region. Jonathan arrived a few years later. Nancy's love for Mike was only matched by her devotion to her two boys.

While her family and loved ones were the most important part of her life, Nancy also had a long, dedicated, and successful career in health information services. She worked at various hospitals throughout Long Island and the Capital Region, before retiring as Director of Medical Records and Chief Privacy Officer.

Nancy will be best remembered for her strength and grace, and for her compassionate, caring, and selfless personality. As a wife and mother, and in all aspects of her life, Nancy always cared more about her loved ones than about herself. Her strength and concern for others never wavered, even in the face of multiple cancer diagnoses and years of intense treatment. She was perpetually the voice of reason and kindness.

Nancy was also an avid cruiser. After twenty-five years of marriage, she was finally able to convince Mike to take their first cruise in 2002. They had since enjoyed fifty cruises together, many with beloved friends and family.

She was a passionate reader and enjoyed reading mystery books while on vacation, by the pool, or sitting on the patio. Nancy found it rewarding to take short and long walks locally and on vacation for exercise, taking in the scenery, and for chatting.

Out of all the things that brought Nancy joy in this life, however, her family was her most cherished treasure. She was a devoted wife, mother, mother-in-law, and beloved Grandma. She loved to spend time shopping to find the perfect toys, clothes, or other treats to spoil the girls, her granddaughters, Natalie and Eliana. Nancy always looked forward to hosting regular Sunday evening dinners, first with Andrew, Jonathan, and her daughter-in-law Paula, and later with the additions of Natalie and Eliana. The only thing that exceeded all the leftovers she would send home each week were the bountiful memories that are still held dearly. Her memory will be held close in the hearts of those she loved and leaves behind.

Nancy is survived by her husband Mike, her two sons: Andrew Binder, of Buffalo, and Jonathan (Paula) Binder of Albany; two granddaughters: Natalie and Eliana; as well as several nieces, nephews, and close friends. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her siblings Leslie Goldstein and Peter (Maya) Anolick.

Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend Memorial Services on Monday, December 4th, 2023, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at The Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home, 149 Old Loudon Rd., Latham, NY. The family will welcome guests from 3:00 to 4:30. Sharing of memories and reading of eulogies will begin at 4:30.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Nancy's honor may be made to either The Community Hospice at https://www.communityhospice.org/donate or the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation at https://cholangiocarcinoma.org/donate/.

For further information or to leave a condolence message for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com.