Obituary of Adelaide S. Hetrick

Adelaide S. Hetrick , age 95, found rest with her creator on December 24, 2019.

Adelaide was a resident of Woodbury, NJ for 63 years with former homes in Westville, NJ and Chattanooga, TN. Adelaide attended Westville Elementary Schools and graduated Woodbury High School Class of 1941.

Adelaide worked for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance in Philadelphia, PA, Stanley Lachman Insurance in Chattanooga, TN, the Woodbury Trust Company, and at Shell Chemical Company.

Her marriage to David L. Ferguson gave her a daughter, Carol F. Gloeckner, and a son, William D. Ferguson. Through her second marriage to Alfred L. Hetrick, she became step-mother to Frederick J. Hetrick and Victoria D. Zych. She leaves behind eleven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. Adelaide was also sister to Mildred I. Miller and aunt to Arthur D. Miller.

Adelaide's thirst for knowledge led her to taking college adult education courses in Accounting, Photography, Creative Writing, Dried Flower Arranging, and Personal Computing.

Adelaide was a faithful member of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, where she was a member of the choir; served on the church council; was financial secretary; was a member of the Women of the ELCA St. Stephen’s Unit; and newspaper editor for the NJ Synodical Women’s Organization. She served on the Gloucester County Board of Elections as Judge of First Ward Third District; member of WORC and photographer of old city trees, churches and buildings; Friend of Woodbury Public Library; Gloucester County Historical Society; Service Officer of Lutheran Brotherhood Hollybush Branch #8976 and Secretary of the South New Jersey Branch #8040; Woodbury High School Class of 1941 Reunion Committee; and Auxiliary of Destroyer Escort Sailor Association Garden State Chapter.

Adelaide was actively involved in the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs, starting as a member of the Junior Woman’s Club of Westville in the 1940’s. In 1968, she joined the evening membership department of Woman’s Club of Woodbury.  She would then transfer to the Woman’s Club of Woodbury in 1990 where she stayed for the next few decades. She would serve there in prestigious roles including Vice Chairman, Chairman, District Vice Chairman, Financial Secretary and Co-President and President for a number of years.

Adelaide was active in the arts. She performed in regional theater since 1971, including many productions with Washington Township Script-Teasers, and was in the chorus for dozens of productions by the Lewis Shearer Chorale. She received numerous awards for her skillful artwork and photography.

She was known as someone with a great sense of humor that loved playing pinochle with friends; doing her daily crosswords; playing board games; vacationing with her husband and family; playing the piano; listening to records; attending plays; painting; and photography. She was known as a stylish woman who took pride in looking and dressing beautifully.

Friends may call at the McGUINNESS FUNERAL HOME, 34 Hunter Street, Woodbury, NJ on Thursday, January 2nd from 10:00AM to 11:00AM. Funeral Service at 12:00PM in St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 230 N. Evergreen Avenue, Woodbury NJ.  Interment follows at Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson, NJ.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in memory of Adelaide S. Hetrick at stjude.org/donate or by mail to 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.