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VALUE EVERY MOMENT!!!!!
This site, like our memories of Don, is not going
anywhere. Please utilize the links and utilize the Guestbook to share your thoughts and feelings about Don. Don was a great
man, father, son, friend, brother, and is dearly missed!
 
| Ruby Valentina Barrett |
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| Ruby '05 Pictures |
| Donald M. Comins |
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 CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. Donald Martin Comins, 39, of Robinson Street, Canajoharie, died suddenly Monday, August 1, 2005 at Albany
Medical Center Hospital. Born January 15, 1966 in Cobleskill, N.Y., the son of Warren D. Comins and Lois Holmes Comins. A
lifelong area resident, Don graduated from Canajoharie Central School, class of 1984. For the past two years, Don was dairy
and frozen food manager at Hannaford Brothers Company in Guilderland. Prior to that, he was the head of security for Hannaford
Brothers Company for over 16 years. Don was an avid New York Yankees fan and he played baseball in the Hannaford Baseball
League. He was a member of the Canajoharie Reformed Church. Don was a devoted father to his daughter, Jessica Dianne Comins,
and his son, Skyler Martin Comins; also survived by his parents, Warren and Lois Comins of Canajoharie; his sister, Dianne
Barrett, her husband Martin and his niece, Ruby Valentina Barrett of Portland, Ore.; his grandparents, Martin and Erma Holmes
of Cobleskill; aunts, uncles, cousins. The funeral will be held on Saturday, August 6 at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel of Houghtaling
& Smith Funeral Home, 20 Otsego Street, Canajoharie, Rev. Kenneth Dingman officiating. Calling hours 5-8 p.m. Friday,
August 5 at the funeral home. Interment, Canajoharie Falls Cemetery, Canajoharie. The family requests donations for the Comins
children be made to: NBT Bank, FBO Jessica Comins and Skyler Comins, 24 Church St., Canajoharie, NY.
Published in the
Albany Times Union on 8/5/2005 |
DIANNE'S EULOGY
TO HER BROTHER
Don was my
Big Brother, not JUST in age, but also in size. And, in writing this speech, I came to realize that he encompassed
the phrase 'Big Brother' fully and in every aspect. He was big, tall and he was brawny. He was supportive and
often stoic but ALWAYS ready for a laugh. And what a laugh it was!
Not only was
he brother to me but to everyone who befriended him-to other family members like our cousins,Gina and Michelle-who we grew
up with like siblings. Don being the only boy often took on roles he may not have chosen for himself. When playing
"Charlies Angles" Don was most definately coersed into being 'Boz' or the 'Bad Guys' we chased down in the get-away car or
i.e. the tractor!
He was tolerant
when I followed him around wanting to do 'boy' things because I didn't like 'girl' things. When I jumped on his snowforts
and caved them in, stole his match box cars and my barbie ran off with his Evil Kaneviel doll. He forgave me anything
because he was my Big Brother.
He was Big
Brother to me, to all our cousins, to his friends, to Co-workers, and even to his beautiful children. Don's relationship
with them was one of loving father and son, loving father and daughter, and in their later adolescence, a Big Brother.
Don was such
a good friend to his children is a way that fathers rarely are. His children made him proud, his children gave his life
purpose and meaning. He enjoyed their company and he shined in their presence.
I am proud
to be Don's sister, but he was also an amazing son- and he and I are proud of our parents, Lois and Warren Comins, the bravest,
strongest parents to have come through this time. They donated Don's organs so that some good could come from this tragedy
and that other lives could be saved. Our hope is that many take a moment to reassess their lives because it can be gone
so suddenly and unexpectedly! I'm also proud to be Aunt to Don's legacy, Jessica and Skyler. Most of all I'm proud
that Don was and will always be my Big, Big, larger than life, Brother. I love you Don, rest in peace.
Dianne Barrett
Eulogy by
Michael Hourigan:
Good Morning,
I would like to thank
the Comins family for honoring me with the request to speak to everyone today.
In thinking about this I heard there are books on what to say, and I looked on the internet and learned that for 29.95
I could have had someone write this for me. It all seems a bit strange to me and I hope this goes well; and hey it’s
free.
I met Don back in 1990 when I began working for Hannaford Brothers and an instant, long lasting friendship was created.
A friendship I will cherish for the rest of my life.
myself, and many of the pall bearers here today had many fun times when we worked at Hannaford with Don so many in
fact that our old boss, and I use the word old gently, Dennis Baker now has white hair. Before we all began working together
Dennis’s life was pretty boring, and uneventful, he actually had a full head of dark hair. Today thanks to us it is
like pure cotton – thin pure cotton.
Don and I spoke everyday for many years, sometimes multiple times a day. Our conversations were wide ranging at times
but for the most part I would say that at least 80% of them involved our children. When I reflect on Don I immediately think
of Skyler and Jessie. Don and I would always talk at length about Skyler, Jessie and my children Keira and Andrew. We shared
many similar experiences, thoughts, fears, and joys of being Daddy.
On Dons website he sums it up completely in his own words it says “I am looking a little weird here. The picture
was taken after I drove about 6 hours to pick up the kids before a playoff softball game for the Tri-City Bombers.”
Anyone who knew Don clearly knows he was a man that lived to be Daddy…a role he lived to the fullest and cherished every
single day.
In my life I have experienced the significant loss of nine close friends now 10. As I looked back at these deaths I
always looked at them with hostility, significant sadness, anger, and other seemingly selfish feelings. You know it struck
me the other day when I spoke with Jessie and Skyler I told them that some people go their whole lives without ever experiencing
the love that there father had for them. It then dawned on me how lucky I have been to have had such great friends, and to
currently be surrounded by such great people.
Don’s death is shocking and sad but in the week he held on I found myself growing much closer with his family,
and was fortunate enough to spend time with Skyler and Jessie; two outstanding kids.
Don thank you for so many good memories, for playing such a positive significant role in my life everyday.
To Jessie, Skyler, and everyone here today I am deeply sorry for the loss you have experienced and the pain associated
with that loss. There is a saying that I spoke with Jessie and Skyler about and it fits perfectly into the life Don lived
and the life each one of us has the opportunity to live right now…Value Every Moment.
mJHOURIGAN@GMAIL.com
THE SILENT EULOGY
I wrote this before Don’s funeral with maybe the intention of reading it out loud. Yet
the day came and I could not bring myself to speak these words out loud. I know though, Don would have understood. ~Michelle
Fletcher Keaney
When your mothers are identical twins, the relationship of “Cousins” takes on a whole new
meaning. Every Birthday and Holiday are spent together and all the other days in between. Sometimes our mothers even dressed
us alike (and we have the pictures to prove it). Because of this, we acted more like brothers and sisters than cousins. Playing
and fighting came quite natural.
As kids I remember playing “Name That Tune” where Don (with his endless supply of 45 albums)
would play a short bit of a song while Dianne, Gina & myself would try to guess what song it was. Of course, Don got GREAT
pleasure in stumping us. Camping in the summers though was probably the greatest ever. I have so many great memories from
those summers but my favorite has to be the M-80’s in the fish pond (and yes it does make the fish float to the top).
I don’t want to say the name of the campground – because still to this day, they have no idea how all those fish
died.
As we got older and had kids of our own, I found a greater respect for my “Big Cuz”. While
the adults are sitting around chit-chatting at family get-togethers, Don was always the “Big Kid” out playing
ball with his children and mine. I am thrilled that my youngest daughter has inherited Don’s love and talent for baseball.
I just wish he could see her in her birthday present. GO YANKEES!
Don was the happiest when he was with his kids. He made every minute spent with Jes & Skyler count
and sacrificed so much just to be with them. How he managed it all- I’ll never know, but he managed to raise two Great
People.
Today we say Good-Bye to a Great Dad, Son, Brother, Grandson, Uncle, Nephew, Cousin and Friend. There
will be a huge void in our family from this day forward, but Heaven doesn’t seem so scary knowing Don is watching over
us – waiting – until we meet again.
Love you, Cuz.
It's Deja Vu all over again
| Ruby Valentina Barrett April 4th, 2004 |
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| tickle my niece for over 100 pictures |
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