An Upbeat Woman: Nedra Kinerk was amazing

A text sent to me this Tuesday morning was one of those you know is coming, but you’re not looking forward to its arrival: “Nedra passed away last night at 11:55 p.m. Officially 12:39 AM today (May 13).”

For those who may not have known her, every community in the RGV could use a Nedra Kinerk.

“You mean a loud politiquera who drives a white Caddy and always gets paid in cash?”

Hardly.

No, a petite woman, 5’ 1”, maybe 110 pounds soaking wet, whose sole mission in life seemed to be making her community a better place.

Sounds like a cliché, but in Nedra’s case, that was pretty much the truth. Like a Walking Sermon on the Mount, no disrespect. Only she didn’t act holy, or sanctimonious, or preachy, but she sure gave back to her community, and she loved people. Pretty much unconditionally.

In Nedra’s case, McAllen, and indeed Hidalgo County, was where she did most of her volunteer work after she and her husband retired here in 1988, after coming down here almost every summer as Snowbirds for the nine years prior.

Nedra was the kind of woman who could ramp up any community event and have you walk away feeling happier. Even after writing out a check for whatever nonprofit she was helping promote.

Nedra’s Secret

Ten years ago this July, The Advance published a story about her titled — “Secret to Aging Well – Happy Birthday, Nedra Kinerk.”

She was about to turn 83 and she wasn’t shy admitting it.

“When some people find out your age, they want to put you in a box, but then you think, I’m too old to matter. They’re going to think what they will, that’s their problem, so what?”

Pure Nedra.

Along the way, she lost an adult daughter and a husband, but still found reasons to smile and still make her days count as she explained in that 2015 story:

“Well, I’m not going to tell you that it doesn’t get very lonely at times. You take it one day at a time. But what you do is concentrate on the good times. You remember all the fun times you had together. Don’t dwell on your regrets. And you always continue to look for a purpose for living. Sure, it’s tough sometimes. That’ why it’s important to remain in contact with people, with friends.”

With that philosophy, she lived 10 years longer.

If you look up “people person” in the dictionary, Nedra’s face would be next to it.

“You still have to believe that you can make a difference in the world,” she said back in 2015. “And you can’t do that if you don’t think of other people. You keep reaching out. You tell yourself that you can still make a difference (in the community in which you live), and that’s a good reason for still getting up in the morning.”

This past holiday, she found out that she had terminal abdominal cancer but still found a way to find light and gladness in the world.

“The doctor told me I have months, not years, to live,” she said by phone this past March. “So I take each day and find some reason to be happy.”

Knowing her time was running out, Nedra Kinerk was adamant that she didn’t want people to feel sorry for her.

“Don’t say you’re sorry,” she said at the time. “Say it’s been a blessing to know you, think of me in kind ways, and even though I’ve been given six months or less to live, that doesn’t mean I won’t live longer.”

In the hearts and minds of those who knew you, Nedra, you will indeed live forever.”

RIP, gentle lady.