Kerwin, Malinda M.

TROY - Malinda McCrea Kerwin of Crestwood Avenue moved on from this life on January 3, 2021 in the comfort of her own home. Malinda was born in Troy, NY on April 23, 1949 to William H. McCrea, Jr. and Ruth D. (Maloney) McCrea. She attended The Wynantskill School and was a member of Catholic Central High School’s Class of 1967. While a single mother, Malinda attended and graduated from Hudson Valley Community College and the College of Saint Rose, completing her Bachelor’s degree in 1991. As she continued her education, Malinda worked many jobs, including with the Mancini Travel Agency, the U.S. Army, Hudson Valley Community College, Organichem, Corp., and the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office, finally retiring in 2015.

Continuing into her retirement, Malinda found incredible pleasure and purpose in volunteering for several organizations. She spent many days at the South End Children’s Café doing anything and everything, from office work to homework help to making sure that the children got home safely. She also loved supporting the “Café kids” at their outside activities where the kids’ faces would light-up when they saw “Miss Malinda.” She also served on the Board of Directors for the Troy Area United Ministries from 2013 to 2019. Malinda was very active in TAUM’s various programs, including serving monthly dinners at TAUM’s Damien Center for eleven years with her daughter Liza, grandson Shay and other friends. Malinda also shared her love of reading with students at Bell Top Elementary School where she facilitated the Rensselaer County Literacy Volunteers reading mentorship program. Malinda was a parishioner of Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Troy for approximately fifty years, where she served, among other roles, as lector, eucharistic minister, CCD teacher, Social Justice Committee member, and President of the Women’s Guild. Not only was Saint Michael’s the source of Malinda’s spiritual life, but it was also the place where some of her most cherished relationships originated.

It was through Saint Michael’s that Malinda met her group of lifelong friends (affectionately referred to as “the Church Ladies,” by Malinda’s children). For 37 years, Malinda and the Church Ladies shared unconditional friendship of which most can only dream. In addition to the Church Ladies, Malinda developed other very strong friendships throughout her life – some newly formed or rekindled, and some that she maintained since childhood. In her retirement, her calendar was always filled with scheduled meet-ups, live performances, book clubs, or meals with a myriad of friends and soon-to-be friends. As a magnet on her refrigerator stated, Malinda’s “favorite people called her Grammy.” Malinda was Shay’s biggest fan, never missing a game, concert, school function or fundraiser, making sure that he always knew that he was loved, supported and valued. She was so excited to have had the opportunity to start doing the same for grandsons James and Patrick and was looking forward to seeing what antics her only granddaughter, Emily, would add to the mix. It is comforting to know that she now has a front row seat from which to cheer them all on forever.

Malinda is survived by her children Adrienne Kerwin of Wynantskill, Brian (Kim) Kerwin of Ridgewood, NJ and Liza Kerwin of Wynantskill; grandchildren Shay, James, Patrick and Emily Kerwin; brother Bill (Judy Lott) McCrea of Latham; and sister Nancy (David) King of Latham; her “other daughter,” Amy (Bradley) Fraser, whose company she specifically requested in her final days; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and many cherished friends.

In recognition of the significance of Saint Michael’s in Malinda’s life, all services will be held there. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 8, 2021 at 12:00pm at Saint Michael the Archangel Church, 175 Williams Rd., Troy, NY, followed by internment at Evergreen Cemetery in Wynantskill.

Family and friends are invited to safely visit with the family at the church from 10:00am to 12:00pm on January 8, 2021. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, masks are required to attend, and social distancing protocols must be followed, including with the family.

Malinda’s funeral mass will also be available via livestream on St. Michael’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StMichaelTroyNY

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to honor Malinda in a special way, please consider donating to, or volunteering for, the South End Children’s Café (southendchildrenscafe.com) or Troy Area United Ministries (taum.org). Any gesture, no matter how small, will continue Malinda’s devotion to service that ended far too soon.