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John Nicholas Nelli
March 30, 1957 – Oct. 8, 2004
John Nicholas Nelli, 47, of Cary died Oct. 8, 2004, with his family at his home. John was a loving husband, devoted father, dutiful and caring son and brother, and loyal friend whose enthusiasm for life, strength of character and love of the Lord will be missed. He is survived by his wife, Patrice Cecchetti Nelli, and his sons, Nicholas, Nathan, Garrett and Austin. He is also survived by his parents, Joseph and Dolarita Nelli of Gastonia, and his grandmother, Giovannina Nelli of Riverton, N.J. Also surviving are brothers, J. Robert Nelli Jr. and wife Eileen of South Windsor, Conn., James Nelli and wife Katherine of Gastonia, Thomas Nelli and wife Cortney of Fisherville, Va., Christopher Nelli and wife Michelle of Austin, Texas, William Nelli and wife Kristen of Simpsonville, S.C., and Steven Nelli of Las Cruces, N.M., and sister Jeanne Marie Vick and husband John of Simpsonville, S.C.; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. John also was blessed with a dedicated and loving in-law family.
Born March 30, 1957 in Cincinnati, Ohio, he grew up in Gastonia. He attended St. Michael's Catholic School and Ashbrook High School. He graduated from Appalachian State University and received his master's degree in accounting from Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
John began his professional career in Durham in 1980 and lived in Raleigh and Durham until 1989, when he and his family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, Pawleys Island, S.C., and Matthews. A resident of Cary since 1995, he was most recently employed by Tangram Enterprise Solutions of Cary as senior vice president and chief financial officer.
He was a dedicated parishioner of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Apex. As an avid outdoorsman, John loved to fish, camp and especially duck hunt. He also enjoyed coaching youth basketball and baseball. His special passion was football, which he coached for the past eight years with Cary Pop Warner.
John was devoted to his children, giving them an example of faith lived with enormous courage, grace and humor. The courageous spirit with which John Nelli lived his life will live forever in all those who knew him. Visitation was held at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church and School on Sunday evening, Oct. 10. A funeral Mass to celebrate John's life and faith was held at St. Mary Magdalene Church at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, with Father Donald F. Staib officiating. Pallbearers were Norwood G. Jones Jr., James McCormick Jr., Mitchell Mumma, James Nelli, J. Robert Nelli Jr. and James V. Taggart. A graveside service followed at New Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family extends its gratitude for the many prayers and the kindness demonstrated by family and dear friends around the world. A special thank you to the staff at the Duke Brain Tumor Center, especially Elaine Martell and Dr. James Vrendenburgh.
Memorial contributions may be made to Duke Brain Tumor Center – 04BT, Angels Among Us, c/o Team Nelli, DUMC 3828, Durham, NC 27710; or to St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church and School, 625 Magdala Place, Apex, NC 27502.
Arrangements by Apex Funeral Home.
Karen Sauls-Maynard
Karen Sauls-Maynard, 38, of Cary, beloved wife of Robert F. "Bobby" Maynard, and "mom" to José, died Thursday, Oct. 7.
Born Sept. 20, 1966, she was the daughter of Billy and Wilma Sauls of Morrisville. Karen graduated in 1984 from Cary High School and attended Mars Hill College before following her calling to become an RN. A 1991 graduate of the nursing program at Wake Technical Community College, she worked for several years at Rex Hospital.
A lover of books and music, of the mountains and the beach, and of learning and experiencing all life has to offer, she was deeply committed to her large, extended family.
In addition to her husband and parents, Karen will be missed by her grandparents, Willie and Dorothy Moore of Goldsboro, and by many aunts, uncles and cousins; by her sisters, Sharon Barber and Rhonda Sauls, and their children, Christy and Ashley Barber, and Chris, Mark and Reneé Sauls, all of Morrisville; by her sisters- and brothers-in-law and their spouses, Suzy and John Barile of Cary, Ellie Maynard and Dicki Parrish, formerly of Wendell, Donnie Maynard of Erhardt, S.C., Bonnie Hutchinson of Raleigh, Tom and Angie Maynard of Knightdale, and Pattie and Jeff Brooks of Castalia; by their children, Jen Brett of Wilmington, Joey Barbour and Annie and Bryson Parrish, formerly of Wendell, Sydney Maynard of Raleigh, Ben and Alex Maynard of Knightdale, and Jack and Joseph Brooks of Castalia; and her parents-in-law, Don and Kay Maynard of Cary. She was pre-deceased by her mother-in-law, Eleanor Hope "Ellie" Maynard.
Services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10 at Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh, where she was a member, followed by burial in Raleigh Memorial Park on U.S. 70. Memorials may be made to the church.
Jessie Ruth Mason Womble
Jessie Ruth Mason Womble, 87, of Apex died Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004 at Laurels of Chatham in Pittsboro. She was born in Chatham County on March 15, 1917 to William Henry Mason and Mertie Wimberly.
Mrs. Womble was a faithful member of Bell's Baptist Church and a loving grandmother. Although she cherished her role as a homemaker, she worked at Woolen Mills and BVD Mill in Carrboro for many years.
Her husband, Alvin Wilson Womble, preceded her in death on April 29, 1968.
A funeral was held Saturday, Oct. 9, at 11 a.m. in the Apex Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Ray Gooch, Rick Washington and John Singletary officiating. Burial followed in Bell's Baptist Church Cemetery.
She is survived by her son Gene Franklin Womble and his wife Annette of Pittsboro; grandson, Glenn Womble of Apex; sisters-in-law, Katherine Stone of Pittsboro, Ellen Mason of Apex and Josephine Womble of Staunton, Va.; and several nieces and nephews.
The family received friends Friday evening, Oct. 8, at Apex Funeral Home and at other time at the home of Glenn and Annette Womble in Pittsboro. Memorial contributions may be made to Bell's Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 1274 Farrington Road, Apex, NC 27523.
Billy George Oglesby
Billy G. Oglesby, 68, of Holly Springs died early Saturday morning, Oct. 9, at Rex Hospital in Raleigh.
A service celebrating his life and homegoing was held Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 11 a.m. in the Vandora Springs Freewill Baptist Church in Garner. Burial followed in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Fuquay-Varina.
Billy was a member of Vandora Springs Freewill Baptist Church. He will be remembered for his faithfulness to God, and for his generosity and helpfulness to his fellow man. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, who will be missed by all.
Surviving are his wife, Shirley B. Oglesby of the home; two sons, Wayne Oglesby and wife Beverly of Willow Spring, and Timothy Oglesby of Raleigh; four grandchildren, Tim Oglesby Jr. and Anna, Rachel and Brittany Oglesby; and two sisters, Estell Averette and Libby Murphy, both of Holly Springs.
Flowers are welcome, or memorials may be made to Hospice of Wake County, 1300 St. Mary's St., 4th Floor, Raleigh, NC 27605.
The Oglesby family received friends Monday evening, Oct. 11, at the Apex Funeral Home.
Laura Elizabeth Reffett
Laura Elizabeth Reffett, 83, of Evans, Ga., formerly of Cary, passed away Oct. 9 at 8:30 p.m., surrounded by her family.
Laura was born in Westville, Ill., Aug. 31, 1921, the daughter of Steve and Laura Kocurek. On May 18, 1939, she married Val H. Reffett in Covington, Ind. Laura was employed at Taylorville Consolidated Telephone Co. for 25 years, retiring in 1977.
Laura and Val relocated to Titusville, Fla., where they made their home for 15 years. They also lived in Raleigh and in Evans, Ga., during their later years.
Val and Laura had three children, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, Val H. Reffett of Evans, Ga.; son, Val Reffett of Evans, Ga.; daughter, Mrs. Gary (Jeanette) Smith of Fuquay-Varina; grandsons, Mark Reffett of Evans, Ga., and Scott Reffett of Atlanta; granddaughters, Michelle DeVoss of Apex, Dawn Noelle Ramirez of Willow Spring and Vicki Gallahue of Evans, Ga.; and brothers, Paul and Aime Kocurek, and sister, Flora Morrisey, all of Taylorville, Ill. Her daughter, Shirley Ann Reffett, preceded her in death in 1945.
A memorial service honoring her life will be held Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 218 S. Academy St. in Cary.
Memorial donations may be made to Laura Reffett Memorial Fund, Westwood Nursing Home, Evans, GA 30809.
Joan Marie Bracco-Stearns
Joan M. Bracco-Stearns died Wednesday, July 21, 2004 at home. She was born on May 26, 1940 to Domenica and Giachino Bracco in Hempstead, N.Y. She attended Holy Redeemer School in Freeport, N.Y., and Queen of the Rosary Academy in Amityville, N.Y. She grew up in Freeport, N.Y., and later married Emory Ward Stearns on Sept. 9, 1961. Joan was retired from her position as an import and export coordinator at GlaxoSmithKline.
She is survived by her husband, Emory "Woody" Stearns; one son, Richard D. Stearns of Raleigh; mother, Dinca Bracco of Selden, N.Y.; brother, Ronald Bracco and his wife, Carol of Selden, N.Y.; sister, Rita Duffy of Bellmore, N.Y.; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews in New York and New Jersey. She was preceded in death by her father, Giachino Bracco and brother, Leo Bracco. She will be greatly missed by many good friends in Cary and Raleigh.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 29, at 3 p.m. at Glenaire Retirement Community in Cary.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Glenaire Foundation, 4000 Glenaire Circle, Cary, NC 27511; or to Hospice of Wake County, 1300 St. Mary’s St., Fourth floor, Raleigh, NC 27605.
The family wishes to express a special thanks to Ms. Sue King of Cary, loyal friend for 25 years; and to Brother John Malich of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for all his help and service.
Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Cary, is handling the arrangements for the family.
Shirley Evans Brenner
Shirley Evans Brenner, born Jan. 12, 1914 at Pactolus, died Friday, July 23, 2004. She was the daughter of the late William Henry Evans and Penny Eliza Dunn.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Harold H. Brenner, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Shirley, who had lived in Cary for 23 years, was a member of the Asbury Station Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, 3117 Poplarwood Court, Suite 114, Raleigh, NC 27604 or to one’s favorite charity.
Arrangements are pending at this time and are being handled by Crest Lawn Funeral Home.
