Obituary of Hermine Wind

Hermine "Mimi" WIND, a beloved and longtime resident of Greenwich, passed away at the age of 90 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease on June 6, 2023. She was born on October 17, 1932, in Messancy, Belgium, the cherished daughter of the late René and Amedée Dodémont. Mimi spent her childhood in Aywaille, Belgium, where she later earned her teaching degree in the Belgian city of Liège. At the age of 19, while on a solo journey from Belgium to the United States to visit the family of an American surgeon, whom her family had hosted during World War II, Mimi crossed paths with her future husband, Werner Wind, aboard the ship "Nieuw Amsterdam" in 1952. After a year and a half of correspondence they tied the knot in Werner's hometown of Thun, Switzerland, in 1954, and embarked on a life together in the United States. After two years in Queens, NY, they settled in Greenwich, CT where they built a home and raised their six children. Mimi possessed a remarkable spirit of volunteerism inspired by her father's role as the head of the Red Cross in their village during World War II. During her early years in Greenwich, she dedicated her time to volunteering for the American Red Cross. As her children grew older, she became actively involved with the PTA at Parkway School and contributed as a volunteer French teacher at Western Junior High School and Greenwich High School. Beyond her devotion to family, Mimi's greatest passion was her membership in the Alliance Française of Greenwich, which she held for over 50 years. Through this association she had the opportunity to promote French culture and language, a cause dear to her heart. Mimi's unwavering passion for the mission of the Alliance Française, which focused on Learning French, Living French, and Loving French, was truly unmatched. She served on the AFG Board of Directors for numerous years, holding positions such as Secretary, Vice-President, and President. Mimi's deep love for French and Francophone cinema led her to create the "Ciné-Club," "Téléthèque," and "Ciné-Critique". She also actively supported "Focus on French Cinema" until her retirement from the AFG Board of Directors. In recognition of her dedication, the AFG celebrated the 110th anniversary of the founding of the Greenwich chapter by dedicating and renaming the AFG library to "Mimithèque" in 2021. In her leisure time, Mimi enjoyed reading, gardening, and traveling when she was not attending her grandchildren's numerous sporting events and recitals. Mimi is reunited in eternal peace with her beloved husband, Werner Wind, who predeceased her in 2008, as well as her son, Jean-Claude, who tragically passed away in 1980, and her daughter, Bernadette, who lost her life in early childhood. She is survived by her loving daughters, Alexandra Lindner and her husband Brian of Norwalk; Michèle Wind of Stratford along with Thomas Raposa of Rehoboth, MA; Monique Sheary and her husband Brian of Paxton, MA; and her son Patrick Wind and his wife Tracy of Darien. Mimi also leaves behind her 11 adored grandchildren: Eric, Grace, Audrey, Kyle, Sarah, Dylan, Cameron, Lauren, Connor, Samantha, and Walker, as well as two great-grandchildren, Crosby and Parker. Additionally, she is survived by her sister, Paule Dodémont who resides in Belgium. A celebration of Mimi's remarkable life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in her honor to The Alliance Française of Greenwich, 299 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 www.afgreenwich.org