Obituary of Neva Grace Bainbridge

Neva Grace Bainbridge, 104+, of Robbinsville passed away peacefully on July 27, 2020 at the Hamilton Continuing Care Center. Born in Rancocas, New Jersey on November 23, 1915 to William Henry Kale and Mary Grace Williams Kale, Neva was one of five children. She graduated in 1935 from Hamilton High School. Always interested in learning and ahead of her time, she studied for two years at Trenton Junior College, then started her own nursery school which she owned and operated for 10 years. She loved family and children, insisting on celebrating every birthday and special occasion. She could always be found in the kitchen cooking for whomever might arrive at dinnertime. Fresh cookies and pies were a staple in her house. As Neva said: “I cook to live”. She was interested in the arts and took her children to New York and Philadelphia for concerts, plays, and shows. A lifetime resident of Hamilton Square, she and husband Lou purchased a home in Fort Myers on the west coast of Florida when they retired. They lived half of each year in Florida where she was able to play tennis and bridge with all their friends. When back in New Jersey, she was matriarch of the family, rode horses, gardened and was a master at jigsaw puzzles. She also loved adventure, and spent many summers crossing the country with Lou on a Honda Gold Wing. They visited every state, as well as Hawaii and Alaska on that motorcycle. When asked why she thought she had lived such a long life, she would always say it was because she was raised on a farm with fresh air and fresh vegetables. Neva was predeceased by her parents; her siblings Samuel, Herbert, Eleanor ‘Aunt Honey’ and Harriet ‘Aunt Kale’; her loving husband Louis M and her son Louis W Bainbridge; and her nieces and nephews Barbara Kale, Don Kale, Richard (Dick) and Herbert (Bub) Kale. Neva is survived by her son Lyle (Donna) Bainbridge; daughter-in-law Nancy Bainbridge; grandsons Louis Rick (Sandy) Bainbridge, Scott (Jacci) Bainbridge, Andrew Bainbridge, Lori Bainbridge; great grandchildren Casey and Taylor Bainbridge, Matthew and Lucas Bainbridge, Britany Wagner and Loren Leopardi; great-great grandchildren Brianna; Robert, John, and Dawson; and 11 nieces and nephews and their families. A service and interment will be held later. Memories, photos and stories can be posted online at We Remember https://www.weremember.com/neva-bainbridge/6z7f/memories. Please join us in creating a living online memorial for this unique woman!