Anita Sue Mekus

Anita Sue Mekus was born February 28, 1970, in Minot, N.D., the fifth child born to Donavon and Adeline Newnam. She died September 16, 2021, at Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk, N.Y., of natural causes. Anita attended Nedrose Elementary School in Minot, N.D., and graduated from Magic City Campus, Minot Public Schools, in 1988.

Before settling in Fredonia, N.Y., around 2004, Anita lived in Florida and Alaska. While in Alaska, she worked as a supervisor at a temporary staffing company, eventually leaving to train and work as a certified dental assistant in pediatric orthodontics, where she loved caring for the children. In New York, she was a highly-regarded receptionist at Heritage Ministries, Gerry, NY. She enjoyed working with the seniors so much, she ultimately studied and be-came a Licensed Practical Nurse and was employed again at Heritage Ministries as an LPN, distributing medications to residents for several years, until she decided to stay at home with her children in 2020.

After several years of working as a receptionist at Heritage, she (and her husband at the time) had completed her family with four children by 2013, whom they were actively raising together (beloved daughters, Angelina, Hailie, and Grace, and beloved son, Caleb). Anita also sought spiritual fellowship in her community; she was baptized with her children at First United Methodist, Fredonia, N.Y., most recently participating in on-line services at North Ridge United Methodist Church, Lockport, N.Y. She and her children read and discussed the entire New Testament last year while she homeschooled them and worked to instill godly values and habits into their lives. It was important to Anita that her children attend Christian school.

Anita had many creative talents and enjoyed many arts and crafts throughout her life. She was a prolific and talented amateur artist/painter in recent years and crocheted many custom and original “stuffies” (toys for adults and children alike) for many years; she even ventured into the crafting marketplace online to sell items at times. Mostly she enjoyed giving her handicrafts as gifts to her family and many treasured friends with whom she kept in close contact, some since childhood. Many strangers have been recipients of her fun and inspirational paintings on suitable flat rocks that she and her children would design and paint together and leave in public places and parks (especially when they took their dog “Happy” on walks) for others to find and claim or just enjoy for a moment. (The family cat “Rosie” was also much loved.) Anita’s children were her number one priority and she ensured they had as many adventures as possible, traveling to scenic parks, zoos and other places of interest, including a long road trip with all four children from their home in New York to visit family in North Dakota and Montana and back to New York in 2017. One of their favorite summer pastimes was beach glass hunt-ing at Point Gratiot Park and watching sunsets at Barcelona Harbor. Her closest friends treasured time spent together raising their children.

She is survived by her four children: Angelina, Hailie, Grace, and Caleb; mother Adeline Newnam; brothers: Calvin, Byron (Michaela, nephews Wyatt and Westley) all of Minot, N.D.; and Jack of Fostoria, Ohio; sisters: Bonnie (Mark) Peters of Cassadaga, N.Y., Nancy (Fred) Seroski of Billings, Montana; niece Holly Peters (great nephew Noah Dona-von); great uncle Leonard Lund, aunt Audrey Cordner, aunt Dorothy Hamilton, uncle Garold (LuAnn) Hamilton and many cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her cherished “Dad,” Donavon, paternal and maternal grandparents, as well as several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers/gifts, a memorial in support of Anita’s children may be sent via gofundme.com, search Anita Mekus, and choose the fundraiser organized by her sister, Nancy Seroski at gofund me.com/Anita-Mekus.