NORWICH – Nelberta Armstrong Stafford, 78, of Norwich, died early Thursday morning, April 18, 2013. Born in Patchogue Long Island, daughter of Charles Frank Armstrong and Hazel Mae Scherding, she traveled extensively in the northeast during her childhood as the family followed her father in his career in construction. She graduated from Liberty High School before settling at Sunnybrook Farm near New Lisbon with her parents. She worked at Bresee’s Department Store in Oneonta briefly before she met and married James Perry Stafford, her husband of 40 years, on 27 October 1956. She moved to Norwich in 1956 to raise her family. She worked for the local elementary school and the Norwich Printing Press when her children were young. She joined her husband at work at Simmonds Precision and its successor firms Hercules, BF Goodrich and Unison in 1979. She retired after 20 years of service in 1999. She was a longtime member of St. Bartholomew’s Roman Catholic Church.
Nelberta had a great zest for life in her hometown. She was very active in her church. She enjoyed creating lovely crocheted blankets for all the new babies of friends and family, and the elderly in nursing homes. She treated the children of friends and neighbors like her own grandchildren, baking and reading and spreading love.
She is survived by her two daughters and their husbands: Pamela Silva (Marshall Joe) of Copperas Cove, Texas and Catherine Rauschendorfer (Allen Plunkett) of San Antonio, Texas; one sister and brother-in-law Gloria Napolitano (Lou) of Ocala, Florida; Her sisters-in-law Norma Armstrong of Vestal, NY and Leona Armstrong of Schenevus, NY; six grandchildren, Stephanie, Nichole, Danielle, James, Lillian and Jonathon; and four great grandchildren, Rebekah, Briseis, Jayce, and Julia, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their children. She is predeceased by her husband and brothers Donald, Warren and William.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Nelberta will be held at 10 a.m. Friday from St. Bartholomew’s Roman Catholic Church. The Rev. Ralph A. Bove, Pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in the Hillington Cemetery of Morris.
Friends may call at the R.J.Fahy Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The Recitation of the Rosary will be held at 4:30 p.m. from the funeral home.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Memorial Fund of St. Bartholomew’s Church, 8 Silver St., Norwich.