#b#Engagement#/b#
Corrie Elise Novak and Justin Tellefsen are planning a September wedding.
The future bride, a 2003 graduate of High School South, received a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from George Mason University and works at Alliance Imaging Healthcare Services. She is the daughter of Ruth and Steven Novak of Albany, New York.
The prospective groom graduated from Southeastern Lineman Training Center in Georgia, and works for Tri County electric co-op. He is the son of Ginger Hayes and Frank Tellefsen of Centralia, Illinois.
#b#School News#/b#
Phillips Exeter Academy: Highest honors for the fall term were earned by Nikhil Raman, grade 11, of Plainsboro; and Brandon G. Kaplowitz, grade 12, of West Windsor.
#b#Deaths#/b#
Grace J. Sells, 69, of Plainsboro died December 6 at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. A graduate of Douglass College, she held jobs as social worker, insurance associate, and substitute teacher.
Survivors include her husband of 48 years, Wilburn Arthur Sells; two daughters, Kristie Sells and Patricia Brown and her partner, Miguel Morales; granddaughter, Mattea Sells; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Ruth and Dennis DuBois and Fay and Herbie Hagler; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Donations may be made to NAMI Mercer, 337 Brunswick Pike, Suite 124, Lawrenceville 08648 (www.namimercer.org).
Joyce Leiser Geddes Bryant, 86, of Grand Island, Nebraska, died December 7. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Jay and Gina Bryant of West Windsor; and two granddaughters, Emma and Isabel Bryant of West Windsor. Donations may be made to the Stuhr Museum Foundation, Box 1801, Grand Island, NE 68802.
Rodney M. Floyd died December 11. Survivors include a sister, Barbara Williams of Plainsboro.
Kathleen Superior, 64, of Delaware Township died December 12. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Christine and Scott Miller of West Windsor. Donations may made be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202.
James E. Cameron, 69, of Plainsboro died December 14 at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. Born in Aurora, Colorado, he was an area resident for more than 40 years.
Cameron attended Princeton University and received a master’s degree in physics from Columbia University. He worked with computers at Wood & Tower, AT&T, and Bloomberg LP.
Survivors include his wife, Linda K. Cameron; and sisters and brother-in-laws, Mary and Steven Lee of Ohio, Marjorie Cameron of California, and Sarah and James Cameron Lerer of California; one brother, John S. Cameron of California; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were at the Gateway Ministries of Gospel Fellowship Church in Plainsboro. Donations may be made to the American Red Cross or to the church.
Mary Elizabeth Lyles, 96, of Trenton died December 14 at Compassionate Care Hospice at St. Francis Medical Center. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, she was raised in West Windsor and attended Dutch Neck School.
She was employed by Trenton Board of Education, retiring in 1978. Survivors include one daughter, Beatrice Clark; 12 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and 18 great-great grandchildren.
Brenda Farr Engel, 59, of West Windsor died December 21. Born in Washington, D.C., she was raised in Arlington and Falls Church, Virginia. Engel lived in West Windsor for 31 years.
A graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law, she practiced law for the attorney general of Missouri for three years. She was a longtime partner with the law firm now known as Backes & Hill in Lawrenceville.
Engel served for many years as chairperson of the board of trustees at Princeton United Methodist Church; and as a trustee of Woodchuck Hollow, Cherry Hill, and Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church Cooperative nursery schools. She also provided many years of service to West Windsor-Plainsboro school district PTAs. She was an early and longtime member of the West Windsor Arts Council, where until recently she served as secretary of the board.
Survivors include her mother, Betty Hall Farr of Reston, Virginia; her husband of 35 years, Richard Engel; and their three children, John and his wife, Megan, of Washington D.C.; Robert and his fiancee, Abigail Kamens, of Boston, Massachusetts, and Libby of New York City. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and her dogs, Ben and Nugget.
Donations may be made to the Princeton United Methodist Church, 7 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton 08540; or Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065.
Lucy E. Zeleznock, 87, of Plainsboro died December 23 at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. Born in Kelayres, Pennsylvania, she lived in the area since 1955.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Michael N. and Olga Zeleznock of Columbus; a daughter, Mary Lou A Zeleznock; two grandchildren, Michael N. Zeleznock Jr. of New York and Andrew W. Zeleznock of Yardville; and three siblings, Salvatore Sposato, Josephine De Balasi, and Veronica Kollesar. Donations may be made to St Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 411 Adeline Street, Trenton 08611.
Aaron H. Rapking Jr., 99, of Plainsboro died December 25 at Pavilions Assisted Living. Born in Pearl City, Illinois, Rapking had lived at Princeton Windrows for 13 years.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Hortenzia Benchea Rapking; his brother, Glenn Rapking, of Knoxville, Tennessee; five daughters and stepson, Triana Bruso of Galloway Township, Christine and Frank Cox of Lawrence, Frances and Steve Piesbergen of Florissant, Missouri, Caroline Rapking and David Hemingson of Reston, Virginia, MaryMarie and Frank Quigley of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Michael and Linda Raezer of Tucson, Arizona; grandchildren, Kellie, Stephanie, Charles, Sheryl, and Lisa; and great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Karoline, Kathryn, and Alana.
A graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, he received a master’s degree from West Virginia University. Drafted to the Army in 1941, Rapking served more than four years in the Pacific Theater during World War II and earned a Bronze Star. He continued his military service through the Army Reserve and retired as a lieutenant colonel. After teaching he had a career in education administration, mostly in West Virginia.
Donations may be made to the Rapking Family Scholarship Fund at Advancement Office, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, WV 26201.
Catherine A. Pettus, 86, of Ocean Grove died December 28 at Manor by the Sea in Ocean Grove. A former Princeton area resident, she was in the first graduating class at Mercer County School of Nursing and worked at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton.
Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Raymond and Elvina Pettus of West Windsor; grandchildren Ryan, Erin, and Evan Pettus; and great-grandchildren, Bianca, Elizabeth, and Dominick Pettus. Donations may be made to St. Dorothea’s Church in Eatontown.
Lincoln K. Miles, 59, of Willingboro, died December 28 at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he had lived in Plainsboro for many years.
Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Susan Miles; sons, Richard L. Miles and Anthony D. Miles; daughter-in-law, Maria Fernanda Cobos-Miles; grandson, Isaiah M. Miles; and granddaughter, Mylean M. Miles.
