Vina Jean New passed from this life on April 29th 2024 at the age of 82 at her home and was placed in the care of the Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home. She was born in a little yellow house in Co-Op in 1941to RW and Ella Winchester. She would grow up alongside two sisters, and end up spending the majority of her years in her house up on the hill at Hilltop. She enjoyed being outside, watching the hummingbirds, listening to bluegrass music, flowers (her tiger lilies were always the prettiest), and painting until she was no longer able to. Some of you may know her from her years working at Big South Fork Scenic Railway; a job she loved, that brought her some very dear friends.

Vina had three children she raised and loved, but her grandchildren were the true loves of her life. She will be dearly missed for a number of reasons; one of many being her home cooked meals and delicious cakes (with caramel and peanut butter being the favorites). We will forever remember the car rides with her while she told stories of times past, seeing her putting on her lipstick and fixing her hair just to go mow the yard because she always wanted to look good (we still laugh about the time she startled a principal who thought she was a lawyer because of her appearance when she walked through the door to defend one of her grandkids, with the principal asking the parent "you seriously brought a lawyer with you to meet me?"), all the games of pool played with her in her basement, all of the times she waved from the driveway while yelling for us to "be careful and don't get hurt", all of the beautiful paintings she made, all the meals she has cooked, all the wrapping paper fights at her house on Christmas, sledding down the hill behind her house while she yelled at us to stop because we were "going to get hit by a car", and seeing her cheering on all of her grandchildren at awards ceremonies and sports games. Her grandchildren will always remember the nights spent at her house followed by a huge breakfast the next morning. Most of all we will all remember the love she has shown to each and every one of us. She loved us dearly, and we know that the hole she leaves in our hearts is one that will never be filled again (nor will the hole in our stomachs that will be longing for one more slice of her caramel cake).

Vina is survived by her children Chris (Karen) New, Myra (Hank) Tucker, and Wayne (Cindy) New. Her grandchildren Rheanna (William) Cagle, Travis (Sarah) New, Deana Keith, Miranda (Steven) West, Brandon (Opal) New, and Jessica (Nathan) Mason, her great-grandchildren Rhett New, Gavin West, Kylee West, Kendall West, Kasen Anderson, Addilynn New, Riley New, Kyler Mason, Kampbell Mason, Evie Mason, Cameron Creekmore-Gilreath, and Kayne Mason, and her great great grandchild, Hadley Belle. She is also survived by her sister Donna and numerous other family members.

Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home was in charge of a private graveside ceremony for the family. Family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation in remembrance of Vina to Hospice of Lake Cumberland (100 Parkway Drive Somerset KY 42503). The comfort and care they provided to Vina will forever be remembered. Chris and Karen also wanted to express a heartfelt thank you to a few of the hospice staff that provided care to Vina; Nina, Kathy, Phoebe, and Lydia. Thank you for your care and sympathy. We would like to end this with a piece of advice to everyone: Spend all the time you can with loved ones you hold dearly; in the end, your time is the most precious gift you can give them.

Obituary provided by the family.

Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home was honored to serve the family of Vina Jean New.