Obituary of Michelle D. "Mimi" Wilson

A long-time resident of Delhi, Michelle D. “Mimi” De Smet (De Smet – Belgian/French for Smith) Wilson passed away peacefully and quietly March 14, 2025, at the Mountainside Residential Care Center in Margaretville, NY.  Michelle (“Aunt Mimi” or Mimi to all who knew her) had been a resident there since 2018.

Born January 3, 1932, to Albert and Marie-Louise (Brie) De Smet in Orleans, France. Mimi was the widow of Bruce Means Wilson of Delhi who predeceased her in May 2020.  Mimi met Bruce in Paris France, when he was enlisted in the US Army and stationed there between 1953 and 1954.  They married in 1954 before Bruce was transferred to the US, Mimi followed Bruce to the US in September of 1954, immigrating through Ellis Island. 

Mimi’s parents were Belgian, her father Albert was a World War I veteran of the Belgian Army and survived that terrible war; she grew up in the City of Orleans, south of Paris, the youngest of 7 children, including three brothers: Pierre Albert, Lucien H, and Jean De Smet, and three sisters Madeleine M, Simone, and Claudine who all predeceased her.  Brother Jean’s daughter Annick immigrated to Alabama and her family continue to live there.  Mimi was the last of her generation in both her and Bruce’s families. 

Mimi and Bruce did not have children; she is survived by the nieces and nephews of her siblings, as well as by those of Bruce’s stepsister, Joyce Hutchins MacNaught and husband, Malcolm, both of Delhi and have pre-deceased her.  Joyce and Malcolm’s children: Telene Ward, Malcolm Jr, John and Edith and extended families remained close to Mimi in Delhi, Edith visiting from her home in Phoenix, AZ. 

Bruce’s brother John F. Wilson and wife Annis lived on Long Island, their four sons John H, George, Thomas, and Robert and their extended families, all living; John and Thomas in New Jersey, Robert in the Hudson Valley, and George in North Carolina. 

Educated in Orleans France, Mimi was destined to find common interests with Bruce, she having worked in an electrical store in Orleans into her 20’s.  and Bruce’s father George had operated Wilson Electric at 100 Main Street in Delhi, and Bruce was an electrician’s helper there.  Mimi and Bruce settled on the upper portion of Court Street, two houses below where Bruce was born; they had a chicken coop behind their garage that provided them with fresh eggs for many years; prepared in Mimi’s French styled kitchen. 

Mimi and Bruce, returned to France periodically to visit her family and friends for many years.  Albert and Marie-Louise visited Bruce and Mimi in Delhi on occasion as did Mimi’s friends and family.

Everyone who knew Mimi loved her; she brought smiles to everyone she met with her wry sense of humor.  Joining the Delhi community, Mimi joined a local French club. the American Legion Auxiliary, the First Presbyterian Church of Delhi, they also housed SUNY Delhi College Students and she and Bruce participated in many community events.  Over the years, Mimi and Bruce became fixtures each morning at the Delhi Diner. 

Mimi’s great passion was for her many dogs over the years, generally small in size and large in personality, she rarely traveled without them and could often be seen walking through the streets of Delhi with them.

  Her other passions were her elegant home and tending her garden where she was regularly seen.  The Old Delhi Cemetery across top of Court Street became a concern for Mimi, the old cemetery’s overgrown condition and lack of maintenance bothered her, and it became a cause of hers to clean out the overgrowth, plant ground covering plants and establish pathways, the condition of the cemetery was a testament to her efforts.   

Friends and relatives are invited to call from 11AM to 1PM on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at the MacArthur Funeral Home, 134 Main Street, Delhi, NY, where a service will be held at 1PM with the Rev. Jamie Tyrrell, burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery, where Mimi will be buried alongside Bruce.

Mimi’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the nurses and staff of the second floor of Mountainside Residential Care Center for their great care of her while she resided there.

Contributions in memory of Mimi can be made to the Heart of Catskills Humane Society, the Mountainside Residential Care Center, second floor in Margaretville or to the First Presbyterian Church of Delhi.

Rest-in-Peace ‘Aunt Mimi’.

To watch a recording of Mimi's Service and Graveside follow the link below.

Michelle Mimi Wilson Services