(l. to r.) Amanda, Katie, Joseph, Neena (Anita Jensen) and Willie. Anita Jensen

Anita Jensen of Garden City, passed away on June 30, 2009 as the result of injuries sustained from an accident. Beloved daughter of the late Marilyn and Harry, loving sister of Sue Eigl(Jensen), sister-in-law of Jiri, adoring aunt of Amanda, Joseph, Katie, and Willie Eigl. Visitation was held at the Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Home, on Thursday July 2. A Catholic Mass is being held Friday, July 3 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's R.C. Garden City, NY followed by interment at St. John's Cemetery, Middle Village, NY

Anita passed away after being in a coma, the result of injuries from choking on her dinner on June 19th. We thank our friends and family for without them we could not have gotten thru this most shocking and difficult time. We also thank the doctors and nurse of Plainview LIJ Hospital for their care and compassion. They worked many hours to make Anita as comfortable as possible, for which we will always be grateful.

To her family Anita was a true blessing having waited 10 years for a child! She was known as Nita by her immediate family and by her nieces and nephews she was called Neena. She was born in West Hempstead, NY and moved to Garden City at the age of three. She became slightly disabled due to a childhood illness, she was left as a slow learner. Nita made every effort to be the best student she could and attended various Boces schools over the years. In 1983 she won a reading award and graduated with a dual diploma from Garden City High School and Boces-a rare accomplishment for a disabled person such as herself! She went on to work for Nassau County's Mailroom where she was happily employed until 2001 at which time she took early retirement after a having survived breast cancer.

The biggest joys in Neena's life were her nieces and nephews-the sun set and rose on them! From the moment her first niece, Amanda was born she began to do her new job as Aunt and spoil. She was also Amanda's godmother and shared a very close bond with her having their birthdays one week apart. One by one as Joseph, Katie, and Willie came along she rejoiced at her good fortune to have these babies! Anita was not to marry or have any children of her own but enjoyed her nieces and nephews as if they were her children. The family joke by her sister Sue is I gave birth to my sister's child-Amanda is in most ways the image of Nita.

I could not have asked for a better sister. As our father died when we were very young Nita and I had it hard. We always stuck together! I will always be inspired for her pure will to overcome obstacles that constantly got in her way. I learned at an early age to treat everyone the same regardless of their disabilities-my children know this lesson and I am so proud of the love and respect they have always had for their Aunt in a society that would prefer perfection. One would be hard pressed to find a more gentle, loving, and kind person.

Our mother taught us to appreciate each day for what it is and to try not to look to far into the future. We were also taught that God hears all prayers... you just might not get the answer you wanted. We will miss you forever! I believe my sister will be happy in heaven and watch over "her babies"

-Sue Jensen Eigl.