Obituaries 6-22-12

George Zinsner

George W. Zinsner of Sarasota, Florida, and formerly of Rye, died May 31, after an eight-month battle with cancer.

Born February 18, 1936, he grew up in Rye, and graduated from Rye High School and Nichols College. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany.

In 1965, he and his wife Sherry opened Zinsner’s Real Estate on Purchase Street in Rye, and then a second office in Rye Brook. They retired in 1989.

The Zinsners spent the last 22 years in Sarasota, enjoying their friends, their grandchildren, and good games of golf.  

Mr. Zinsner will long be remembered as a devoted, honest, giving father, husband, and friend, and he will be sorely missed.

He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Sherry Zinsner, his two children, Michele and Brendon, and their families.  

A Memorial service will be held June 15, at 9:30 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation in Sarasota. A Celebration of Life reception will immediately following the service. He will be buried at The Sarasota National Cemetery in a Veterans memorial ceremony at 2 p.m.

Donations in Mr. Zinsner’s name may be made to the charity of your choice.

Sister Marie Kathryn Naab

Sister Marie Kathryn Naab, who was a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus (SHCJ) for 66 years, died of heart failure June 12 at Holy Child Center in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. She was 93.

Born in Philadelphia, she graduated from West Philadelphia Catholic Girls High School in 1937 and entered the Convent of the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus the following year. She became well known by her religious name, Mother Mary Thais.

Sister Marie Kathryn began her ministry teaching at her alma mater from 1940-1950. She also taught at Mayfield Senior School of the Holy Child Jesus in Pasadena, Calif. from 1950-1956; St. Mary’s High School in Melrose, Mass. from 1956-1961; Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child Jesus in Summit, N.J. from 1961-1962; and at Holy Child High School in Waukegan, Ill. from 1962-1976.

From 1976-1990, she taught art at School of the Holy Child in Rye. She ministered in the Health Perspectives Office at Rosemont College in Rosemont, Pa. from 1990-1995.

Sister Marie Kathryn retired in 1995, living in Rye, as well as Rosemont, Pa. over the last 17 years.

She held a bachelor’s degree in history from Rosemont College, as well as two masters’ degrees: one in education from Immaculate Heart University in Los Angeles and the second in art from Notre Dame University.

Sister Mary Kathryn is survived by two sisters: Sister Margaret Alacoque Naab, who is also a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus, and Theresa Naab Blaney. She was predeceased by her sister, Beatrice, and four brothers: Brother Joseph Naab, OFM, Frederick, Edward, and Gerard.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated June 16 at the New Sharon Chapel in Rosemont.

Memorial donations may be sent to the SHCJ Retirement Fund, 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010.

Joan Morton

Joan Riesbeck Morton, 94, passed away peacefully June 9 in Princeton, N.J. She and her husband, Thomas M. Morton, were longtime residents of Rye.

Born in Indianapolis, August 31, 1917, she was the daughter of Joseph and Vivian Riesbeck. She was raised by her mother because her father, a pharmacist in Indianapolis, passed away in the influenza epidemic of 1919.

In 1935, she and her family moved to New York City, where she met the love of her life, Tom Morton. They were married in 1945 in Grand Island, Nebraska, where Mr. Morton was stationed at the end of World War II. They returned to New York and, after a brief move to Philadelphia, settled in Westchester County in 1956.

For many years, Mrs. Morton was the assistant to the Dean of Students at Manhattanville College. She was a member of the Rye Woman’s Club. She enjoyed bridge, her English comedies, lunches at Rye Beach, and trips to the Hamptons and Florida. 

Mrs. Morton was predeceased by her husband in 1989. She is survived by five children: Paul Michael of Venice, Fla. (Betty), Tom of Yorktown Heights (Barbara), Jean of New York City (Don), Bill of New York City (Cathy), and Ann of Princeton, (Dave); as well as two grandsons, John Christopher and Thomas James, and a granddaughter, Alicia Catherine.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held June 13 at Church of the Resurrection. Interment followed at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Donations in Mrs. Morton’s memory may be made to The Salesian Missions or Public Television (PBS.)