Obituary of Nora Collins Sexton Winkel

After a long battle with Alzheimer's, Nora Collins Sexton Winkel, 88, died peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, June 24, in Carlsbad, CA. A loving and devoted daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend over her long and rich life, Nora had a gift for forming and maintaining special and memorable relationships. She will be remembered by all for her great wit, style, beauty and joie de vivre. Born March 7, 1929, Nora was the loving daughter to the late Florence and Howard Collins; devoted "Mumsie" to her four adoring children Laurie, Nancy, Bobby and Nora; beloved "Grammy" to her nine grandchildren Joey, Nick, Molly, Bobby, Emily, Maddie, Jimmy, Mary and Johnny; loving sister to Florrie Feuerbach, and the late Jean Marie Mendes, Patrick Collins, Nellie Gallin (her twin), and Larry Collins; "Aunt Nora" to her more than 40 nieces and nephews; and dear friend to hundreds over her long life. Nora was baptized at St. Augustine's Church and graduated St. Augustine's grammar school. After graduating from Mamaroneck High School, Nora became a candy striper and often spoke about her time administering to the sick at New Rochelle hospital. She soon met Bob Sexton, a New Rochelle native, and great teacher and coach at Iona Prep. They fell in love and were married in June 1952. Nora and Bob had three children to which Nora was a doting mother. Very sadly, Bob passed away in December of 1962. Nora, then just 33, continued to raise her children in her hometown and began working in marketing for Van Heusen Clothiers moving on to radio advertising sales. She was an active member of the Fenimore Cooper players, the Larchmont Shore Club and the Larchmont Public Library. In March 1968, Nora remarried a Scarsdale native and radio executive, John A. Winkel. They added a beautiful daughter to the family, to which Nora again was a wonderful mother. In 1978, Nora, the "Larchmont girl" moved to southern California, and rechristened herself the "California girl." In her almost 40 years on the West Coast, Nora owned and operated her own business, was a champion lawn bowler, wonderful paddle tennis player, avid beach-goer, movie critic for the Casa del Sol monthly papers and retiree from Ford Aerospace in Newport Beach. As she had earlier in her life, Nora found great comfort in caring for the sick and was a volunteer at Mission Viejo hospital. Nora loved the beautiful outdoor life that came with living in Southern California. Nora's journey ended in sunny Southern California, much as she lived, surrounded by love. We want to thank the wonderful staff and hospice members for their devotion to our mother. Nora's family requests that donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to the National Alzheimer's Association in her honor at act.alz.org/donate - In order to fund research to find a cure for this disease. Visiting will be July 11, 2017 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm at the John J. Fox Funeral Home in Larchmont. Mass of Christian Burial July 12 , 2017 at 10 an at St. Augustine Church in Larchmont. Interment at Holy Mount Cemetery in Eastchester.