Obituary of Anita M. Cook

COOK, Anita M. Age 83 of Elmira, NY. She was born December 19, 1931 in St. Louis, MO, daughter of the late Julius and Ilma Mason and passed away Sunday, September 20, 2015. She was predeceased by her husband Kenneth A. Cook in 1988 and is survived by her sons and daughter-in-law Kenneth Cook, Matthew and Susan Cook; grandsons Eric and David Bills; great grandson Logan Bills. Anita was born into the Great Depression era. Some of you can remember how tough those times were back then. Her mom and dad were fortunate as dad worked in a bakery and mom at Emerson Electric. They began helping anyone who was in need of food or a place to stay, as many did in those times. This set the stage for a philosophy that our mom Anita adopted from her mom. She promised herself that she would carry on Ilma's tradition of never turning anyone away. As a child growing up she also began helping out in the war effort gathering in gathering recyclables throughout the city. She also started at an early age to learn how to dance ballet and tap, along with gymnastics. She was seen many days walking to school on her hands along with one of her girlfriends. As she got older she became a professional dancer and was traveling in a troop around the country performing. Anita was also a very smart student, as she skipped 2nd and 7th grades and graduated high school when she was 16 years old. She began at a teachers college in St. Louis when she was 17 and met our Dad, Kenneth Cook and fell in love. She was married soon after in 1949 and was blesses with her first son Ken is 1955. Two years later another son Matt came along in 1957. During those early years in a little suburb of St. Louis (Baldwin) she began sewing for folks she knew to help ends meet. In 1962 we all moved here to New York, as our Dad got a job working for Corning Glass Works. She soon began raising our family and started enjoying life in Elmira Heights. She was a den mother for troop 76 and designed many large wooden sets for the annual Scout-O-Rama seen here. Anita maintained her sewing skills and began working for Annette Berman at Annette's Bridal in Elmira and later in Horseheads, around the late 60's designing and putting together hundreds of beautiful wedding gowns. During this same time frame she also enjoyed another one of her passions. This was singing in the North Pres. Choir. You see, back in Missouri she was trained by an Italian singing coach, Urano Tumiati to become a very accomplished and beautiful soprano. Her recordings always brought a tear to our Dad's eyes. Starting around 1978 Anita began working in the real estate business. First working with Century 21, then for several years with Max Parker, then onto Longmeadow Realty with Jeff Yunis, then to Ambrose and Shoemaker and then Realty USA. One of the biggest passions she had all this time of course had been animals. She began working with the Chemung County SPCA and eventually got on the Board of Directors and later received a lifetime recognition awrd. She has also been an instrumental part of the development of the spay and neuter program in our community. About ten years ago Anita also took interest in helping the elderly find affordable housing and together with Jean Morse, they started an effort called Jeremiah's Dwellings. This involved two condos in Elmira of which they ran to meet this need in our community. While helping out these people she found there was also a need for helping many people caring for their pets, by means of of spay and neuter as well as helping with vets bills and placing unwanted cats and dogs in homes. Ultimately she started a fund called the Shelly Buffkin fund that is in conjunction with John Varga's home vet care in the Heights that aids in helping people pay for spay, neuter and unexpected health programs. During the last 20 years or so, she has been responsible for helping hundreds of cats and dogs live healthy lives, where they would have more than likely died or been put to sleep. Her passion has blessed her own home with 12 cats now, many of which were rescued and became her beloved friends. Family and friends are invited to visit Walter J. Kent Funeral Home, 858 Lake St. at Washington Ave., Elmira on Monday, September 28th from 4 to 7 pm. Her memorial service will follow at 7 pm. Pastor Michael Cook will officiate. Interment will take place in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Hammondsport at the convenience of the family.