Obituary of Balbina Mayen

Balbina Mayen May 11, 1918 - November 16, 2007 "I do not want anyone to cry for me. I had a long and beautiful life. I am very lucky." Balbina Mayen brightened a room when she entered, always with a smile on her face and a keen interest in other's stories. She had the kind of laugh that made you want to laugh, too. Her late husband, Joe, was the love of her life, and her son Bob and grandson Brett were at the center of her world. Yet her energies encompassed her large extended family as well and she loved making traditional Spanish dishes for gatherings. Her paella, arroz con pollo and rice pudding were legendary. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, May 11, 1918 to Ignacio and Luisa (Suarez) Garcia. Though raised mostly in Brooklyn, she also lived with her cousins in the Plattekill area of New York State for a period of time. She thought of them as her brothers and sisters. After marriage, she lived in Dumont and Edgewater, New Jersey until she and her husband moved to Southbury, CT in the late 1980s. In the ten years she lived at Heritage Village, she made many friends and wintered either in Spain, Mexico, or Florida annually. One of her proudest achievements was volunteering to work with the Special Olympics in 1995, translating for children from Cuba & Togo. Never one to fear change, Bal, (or Val as she referred to herself), moved to Danbury in 1998 to be closer to her son. She joined the United Methodist Church of Danbury, and became active in the condominium community at Apple Blossom, where she prided herself on living independently until her death on Nov. 16 after a brief illness. In addition to her son and daughter-in-law, Robert Mayen & Rachel Poland of Danbury, and her grandson, Brett Mayen of Brooklyn, NY, Bal leaves several nieces, nephews, and cherished friends. Her family would like to thank the staff at Harborside Glen Hill for the loving care Balbina received during her illness. Bal was about as straightforward as they come and you never had to guess about where she stood on something. She was fiercely loyal to family and friends and loved gatherings and celebrations where she was always impeccably and fashionably turned out. She envisioned a big party going on in heaven where all her loved ones who had gone on before her were anticipating her arrival. Their gain; our loss. We'll miss Bal's big heart, laugh and smile, and give thanks for her "long and beautiful life". Funeral Information Cremation will be arranged by Cornell Memorial Home. A celebration of her life will be held at Tarrywile in the spring to coincide with her 90th birthday. Donations Information Donations in her memory can be sent to the United Methodist Church of Danbury, Clapboard Ridge Rd, 06810; or to Special Olympics Connecticut, 2666 State Street, Suite 1, Hamden, CT 06517-2232.