U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
James Gordon Nekerman
James Gordon Nekerman of New Suffolk died Jan. 4, 2007 at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport. He was 78.
He was born in East Hampton on April 8, 1928, to James and Elsie (Peddie) Nekerman. He graduated from Farmingdale Agricultural College. A Korean War veteran and former prisoner of war, Mr. Nekerman received the Korean Service Medal with Bronze Star, the United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
He was a retired heavy equipment operator at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the former owner of a marine propeller shop in New Suffolk. Most recently, Mr. Nekerman was the owner of a locksmith business in New Suffolk.
According to family, he loved boating and had a passion for old cars and was "a kind man who enjoyed cats."
Mr. Nekerman was predeceased by his former wives, Peachy, Margaret Orlowski and Camille Oliveri; his daughter, Andrea; and his brother, John Nekerman. He is survived by his wife, Ann (née Artinger); his children, Rosarie Rea of Bohemia, Frank Oliveri of North Merrick, Teresa Nankervis of Center Moriches, Elizabeth Cantrell of New Suffolk and Thomas Krapf of Easton, Pa.; six grandchildren; and his sisters, Mary Faust of East Moriches and Jean Miller of Ocala, Fla.
Visitation and funeral services were held at William F. Coster Funeral Home in Cutchogue on Jan. 7, with Deacon Jack Bopp officiating. Interment was Jan. 8 at Cutchogue Cemetery.
Elizabeth Wolbert Coleman
Former Mattituck resident Elizabeth Wolbert Coleman died at her home in Winter Garden, Fla., on Dec. 28, 2006. She was 65 years old.
She was born in Greenport on Feb. 5, 1941, to Howard and Doris (Cox) Wolbert Jr. After graduating from Mattituck High School in 1959, she joined the U.S. Air Force, serving for 2 1/2 years as an Airman First Class. After an honorable discharge, she continued to serve in the Air National Guard in New York and Louisiana and in the Army Reserve in Tennessee and Louisiana.
Ms. Coleman is survived by her father, of New Suffolk; her daughter, Crystal Molina of Peach Tree City, Ga.; two grandchildren; and her siblings, James and Howard Wolbert, both of Mattituck, Janet Krudop of Riverhead and Linda Ruland, also of Mattituck. She was predeceased by her mother in 1960.
Graveside funeral services will be held at New Bethany Cemetery in Mattituck on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 11 a.m., the Rev. Kenneth Huber of Calvary Baptist Church in Riverhead officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes.
Katherine Teresa Kennelly
Mattituck resident Katherine Teresa Kennelly died Jan. 9, 2007. She was 81.
She was born April 5, 1925, to Alex and Teresa (Murray) Hildebrandt in Floral Park. She graduated from Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park and St. Joseph's College. On Oct. 2, 1948, she married John Kennelly.
A former Westbury resident, Ms. Kennelly was very active in the pro-life movement. She was also a former Columbiette and former member of the North Fork Country Club.
Her children described her as tenacious, strong and courageous. Ms. Kennelly was a devoted communicant of Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church, Sacred Heart Parish.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, of Mattituck; her children, Katherine Butler of Collingswood, N.J., Teresa, of Belle Mead, N.J., Loretta Prizzi of Greensburgh, Pa., Roseanne Karmel of Tom's River, N.J., Thomas, of Kokomo, Ind., Mathew, of Ridge, John, of East Rockaway, Nora Scaglione of Tonawanda, N.Y., Martha, of Mattituck, and Paul, of Tom's River; 33 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Maria Connally of Floral Park and Alice Murphy of Smithtown. She was predeceased by her son, Peter.
Visitation will be at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck today, Thursday, Jan. 11, and tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 12, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Mattituck.
Memorial donations may be sent to Priests for Life, P.O. Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314.
John K. van Ryswyk
Mattituck resident John K. van Ryswyk died Jan. 3, 2007 at Backus Hospital in Norwich, Conn. He was 79 years old.
He was born in Holland to Adrianus and Jerina (Bueller) van Ryswyk on Feb. 27, 1927. Formerly of Farmingdale and Poughkeepsie, Mr. van Ryswyk worked as a chemist for IBM in Poughkeepsie until his retirement in 1984.
According to family, he enjoyed gardening and was an active member of the Greenport Masons.
Mr. van Ryswyk is survived by his wife, Lorraine (née McAslan); his children, John, of Georgia, Ellen Sherba of Florida and Adrianus, of Connecticut; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Margaret Fisher of Mattituck.
Visitation was held Jan. 5 at William F. Coster Funeral Home in Cutchogue with Masonic services in the evening. The Rev. James Barr officiated at a service the following morning at the funeral home. Interment followed at New Bethany Cemetery in Mattituck.
Memorial donations may be sent to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 836 West Wellington Ave., Chicago, IL 60657.
Dorothy F. Ketcham
Longtime East Marion summer resident Dorothy F. Ketcham of Ridge, formerly of Barefoot Bay, Fla., died on Dec. 21, 2006, at John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility in Yaphank. She was 95.
She was born in Brooklyn on April 14, 1911.
According to family, Ms. Ketcham enjoyed sewing, crossword puzzles and spending time with her family. She also spent a great deal of time helping children as a classroom assistant and after-school tutor while living in Florida.
Ms. Ketcham was predeceased by her husband, Lyman Sr., in 2002. She is survived by her children, Lyman Jr., of Middle Island, and Joyce Vail of Ridge; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services were private.
Memorial donations may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1893, Memphis, TN 38101-9950 or Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, 267-07 76th Ave., New Hyde Park, NY 11040-9867.
Marjorie C. Lindsay
Marjorie C. Lindsay of Riverhead died Dec. 21, 2006, at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown. She was 79.
She was born in Greenport on April 8, 1927, to Manuel and Philamenia (Ranalli) Corazzini. Ms. Lindsay worked as a legal secretary for the New York State court system.
Predeceased by her husband, Jerome, in 1971, Ms. Lindsay is survived by her daughters, Karen Sage of East Marion, Patricia Sendlewski of Baiting Hollow and Janet Everett of Richmond, Va.; and her brother, Robert Corazzini.
Visitation was Dec. 22 at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service was held the following day at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead, Father Thomas Coby officiating. Interment followed at the church cemetery.
Marie C. Bottomley
Marie C. Bottomley of Southold died at her home on Jan. 8, 2007. She was 96 years old.
She was born in Elmhurst, N.Y., on Dec. 22, 1910, to Caroline (Westcott) and Cortlandt Woodburn. After her marriage to Robert Bottomley, she lived for many years in Douglaston, Queens. In 1987, she moved to Founder's Village in Southold.
Ms. Bottomley had been a head librarian for the Queens Library System.
Predeceased in 1966 by her husband and in 1969 by her brother, Melvern Woodburn, Ms. Bottomley is survived by her sons, David, of East Northport, and Robert, of Madison, Ind., and St. Petersburg, Fla.; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday, Jan. 13, at 9:30 a.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold, during which a service of remembrance will be held. Interment will take place in Vermont.
Reynold F. Blum
Former Cutchogue resident Reynold F. Blum, 62, died Jan. 10, 2007.
