Mimi Averill

Mimi was born on April 22, 1942: Earth Day. Nothing was more fitting for Mimi, who had a deep love and reverence for the planet and every creature who inhabits it. She was born and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan by her mother, Eva Paskin Meltzer and her father, Judge Max M. Meltzer. She was a middle child between her sister, Arlene, and her brother, Charles.

Mimi was a lifelong lover of literature and film; in particular, she was always drawn to stories of hope, wonder, and imagination. It is no wonder, then, that the Wizard of Oz spoke so deeply to her. Perhaps, if Mimi ever found herself on the Yellow Brick Road, she would discover that the friends she met there possessed everything they needed all along, just as she always did.

The Scarecrow could have looked to Mimi for her brains. Mimi was whip-smart: witty and sharp, a true lover of learning. Her love of books translated in her adult years into her career in education at St. Gabriel’s in Elmhurst, Queens and continued at St. Therese of Lisieux in Cresskill, NJ teaching CCD and working as an aide and librarian in the school. In her later years, she became a big puzzler and completed well over a hundred puzzles.

The Tin Man could have looked to Mimi for her heart. Her love of animals started as a little girl when she would feed the stray animals in her neighborhood and later manifested in a house full of cats and dogs (at one point, seven cats at once!). Every living creature felt the warmth of Mimi’s big heart.

And the Cowardly Lion could have looked to Mimi as a paragon of courage, justice, and doing what’s right. Some of her heroes included Martin Luther King Jr., Jimmy Carter and Daniel Berrigan, SJ. The latter she met later in her life and was able to have a friendship with him. Her beloved yellow mini car, Buttercup, was decked out in bumper stickers promoting peace, justice, and harmony between all people. Everywhere she went, Mimi was never afraid to speak truth to power.

But much like Dorothy, the most important thing to Mimi was home —and home was wherever her beautiful family was. She and her husband, Kevin, treasured each other. Whether they were taking trips, shopping together, or just enjoying a night of takeout Chinese food at home, they always relished in each other’s company. Her four children, ten grandchildren, and one great grandchild adored her, and know how loved they were. On any given day, they could wake up to a beautifully written letter, adorned with perfectly selected stickers. Her love also manifested in the creation of scrapbooks, banners, and other crafted items that her beloved family will cherish as physical manifestations of her love. Even when she was not with her family, she was constantly thinking of ways she could make them happy — that is the Mimi her loved ones will remember.

Mimi is predeceased by her parents and siblings. Mimi’s baby Pat, her grandson Michael, her adopted son Buddy, and Brother Eugene Vorburger, her older brother by love, have also gone before her.

She is survived by her husband, Kevin, their four children: her sons, John (Angela), Peter (Kathy) and Paul (Janis), and daughter, Erin (Brian); her nine grandchildren and her great-grandson: Stephen and John (Francesca) and their son, Charlie; Eve, Sean and Noah; Isabella and Luca; and Amelia and Ben; and her nephew Rick.

Her family will miss their beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother so, so much, but know that she, like Dorothy, has gone home.

The funeral will be conducted by Becker Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial provider, at 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, NJ. Relatives and friends will be received there on Friday, July 24th from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A Catholic mass will be held at St. Therese Church, 120 Monroe Ave., Cresskill, NJ at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 25th, followed by Mimi’s burial at Maryrest Cemetery, 770 Darlington Ave, Mahwah, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/), the Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge (https://www.rbari.org/), or Valley Hospice (https://www.valleyhealth.com/locations/valley-hospice).