Nelda P. Endecott

Montgomery, NY

Nelda P. Endecott of Montgomery, peacefully fell asleep in death while surrounded by her family and friends on Thursday, December 24, 2009. She was 51.

Nelda Endecott was born to Frank and Anita Magnanini on September 13, 1958 in Wallkill. She was soon joined by her brother, Frank, and her sisters, Vanda, Dorina, Phyllis and Valerie.

She graduated from Wallkill High School in 1976. She owned and operated her own hair salon in Walden, and lived in an apartment above the salon.

One of Nelda's greatest joys was spending time with her many nephews and nieces, who couldn't have had a better aunt. Nelda began to take a serious interest in learning more about God's will and began to study the Bible with Georgia Trout.

On September 6, 1980, Nelda was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Nelda attended the local congregation at Walden, and made many friends there and at Watchtower Farms, also known as Bethel. Through mutual friends, she met a Bethelite volunteering there from Oklahoma, John Endecott. They fell in love and were married on March 30, 1985. As a couple, they lived in Walden for awhile, and then moved to Oklahoma and began full-time service teaching the Bible to others on September 1, 1988.

As an Italian in Oklahoma, Nelda made quite an impression, and many more friends. Many remember her interview at a circuit assembly on how she overcame shyness to witness to people at the door, give comments during the meetings, and give student talks in front of the congregation. John and Nelda moved back to Wallkill and began to part-time commute to Watchtower Farms in 1991. Nelda learned a new trade working with the plumbing crew. Nelda took an interest in many young people in the congregation over the years, just hanging out and having fun. She showed them by example that you can be zealous for true worship and be a fun person.

John and Nelda began serving full-time at Watchtower Farms in October 1994 and continued until September 2005. To the gratitude of many Bethelites, Nelda's talent as a hair dresser was utilized in the barber shop. The highlight of Bethel life for Nelda was morning worship and sharing those thoughts with friends and family, making Bible truth come alive for others. In her time of need, she could draw strength from those thoughts and encourage others.

During the last twelve days of her life, when faced with a life and death situation, it was inspiring to her family and friends to see her determination, strength and faith. Nelda's greatest hope was in her God, Jehovah and no disease could take that away from her. Nelda appreciated her gift of life and did all she could to show appreciation for that gift. During Nelda's last few hours she was at peace and content and is ready to 'walk into Paradise'.

Survivors include her husband, John K. Endecott; parents, Frank and Anita Magnanini; brother and sisters: Frank and wife, Terri Magnanini, Vanda Barry, Dorina and husband, Ralph Di Martino, Phyllis and husband, Mike Bean, Valerie and husband, Matt Schurko; nephews and nieces: Daniel and Shannon Barry, Ronnie and John DeGroodt, Tyler and Casey Bean, Alyssa Lapinski, Jordan Schurko, and a loving extended family.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, December 27, at 4 p.m. at the Pine Bush Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 22 Red Mills Road, Wallkill. The Public is invited to attend this 30-minute program.

Arrangements by Millspaugh Funeral Directors; 845-778-3200.

This obituary was originally published in the Times Herald-Record.