Nora Zeller Strudwick

Nora Zeller Strudwick of Wappingers Falls, N.Y., died February 12 with her family by her side.

In addition to her husband, Thomas, she is also survived by her children and their spouses, Marcia and James B. (Chip) Carroll III of Newtown, Victoria and Samuel Blackmore of Holliston, Mass., Susan Strudwick of Woodstock, N.Y., Jane and J.B. Jones III of Blacksburg, Va., and Renee and Thomas Zeller Strudwick of Gallatin, N.Y. She was much loved by her ten grandchildren: Andrew, Stephen, Julie, Jordan, Scott, Alexandra, Eric, Orion, Avery, and James.

She was born November 5, 1933, in New York City and resided in Wappingers Falls since 1962. She was the daughter of Mathilde Jeanneret and Robert Hans Zeller of Switzerland.

She married Thomas Hyde Strudwick, her high school sweetheart, on June 20, 1954. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Nora, formerly of Manasquan, N.J., graduated from Manasquan High School, and then moved on to receive her RN from Monmouth Medical Center in 1955. She worked at MCOSS in the New Jersey shore area, as a public health nurse, prior to becoming a full-time mother in 1958. She returned to work as a public school nurse at Sheafe Road Elementary in 1977, and retired in 2003. She dearly loved her daily interaction with the children there, as well as her colleagues. She also enjoyed her responsibilities as the nurse manager for the Wappingers Central School District.

A dedicated member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wappingers Falls, she served as a deacon and on the Session. As leader of the coffee hour for 20 years, she took pride in the church’s support of many children through Christian Children’s Fund. She loved the organ and pursued this passion following her retirement, often playing at services on Sunday mornings.

An animal lover, Nora also enjoyed spending time on the Hudson River with her family and her dog, Caesar, cooking and organizing family gatherings, celebrating her Swiss heritage, and ballroom dancing.

A funeral service in her honor was held at the First Presbyterian Church, Wappingers Falls, on February 16. A private burial service followed.

Memorial donations can be made to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research at www.lustgartenfoundation.org or the Dutchess County SPCA, 636 Violet Avenue, Hyde Park NY 12538.

The Newtown Bee     February  18, 2005