Loretta T. Montgomery (née Lavery) of Palermo, NJ, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 19, 2018, in Autumn Lake Healthcare Center, with her husband and love of her life, William J. Montgomery, by her side.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, to Thomas and MaryEllen Lavery, she is predeceased by her parents; sisters Dorothy, Agnes, Mary, and Joan; and her brother Gerard. She is survived by her loving sister Rita Lederer. She was a graduate of the John W. Hallahan Catholic High School for Girls, where she was a Blue Ribbon Girl and the treasurer of her class. She was trained as a registered nurse at the Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing, and also attended Villanova University. Before becoming a registered nurse, she worked as an administrative assistant for the Philadelphia School Board. After nursing school, she worked as a registered nurse for Misericordia Hospital, the Philadelphia School District, St. Joseph’s Manor in Huntingdon Valley, and Holy Redeemer VNA in Swainton, NJ, before her retirement.
Mrs. Montgomery and her husband Bill raised eight children in Northeast Philadelphia and spent many wonderful summers in Sea Isle City, NJ with their family. Her simple pleasures in life were the seashore, crossword puzzles, and marshmallows. Loretta and Bill had just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary together on April 11, 2018. She was devoted to her Catholic faith and she valued and loved her family above all else.
Surviving are her loving husband, William J. Montgomery; eight children: William (Francine), Thomas (Kathleen), Marybeth (Dr. James) Walsh, Loretta Anne (Joseph) Corcoran, Joseph (Amy), Gerard (Elizabeth), Richard (Jacki), Robert (Jacqui); twenty grandchildren; one great grandchild; and many loving nieces and nephews. Our “Deedee” will be sadly missed and remembered by all who knew her.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Friday, April 27, 2018 at 12 o’clock noon from Church of the Resurrection of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, 200 West Tuckahoe Road, Marmora, NJ where friends may call from 10 o’clock until time of Mass.
Burial will be in Cape May County Veterans Cemetery, Cape May Court House, NJ. Memorial contributions are suggested to either St. John Neumann Shrine, 1019 North 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123 or St. John’s Hospice, 1221 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Condolences may be left at www.godfreyfuneralhome.com
