Born in Gloucester City, she moved to Gibbstown in 1963. Babe was a WWII Army nurse, earning the rank of First Lieutenant. She served in England at the Blandford Hospital and Military base. Babe was a founding and 63 year member of the South Jersey American Legion Post #374. She received the NJ Veterans Medal of Gloucester County. She was a member of the VFW Post #5579 in Gibbstown and was the first woman inductee to that post. She received her nurse’s training at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Philadelphia and after the war, returned there. She was a staff member at both Underwood Memorial Hospitals, Woodbury. She retired from Lakeland Hospital. She was an active member of St. Michael’s Church and School in Gibbstown.

Babe was the loving wife of the late John, devoted mother of nine children: Patricia (Charles) Collins of Gibbstown; Rev. John A. of Cape May Court House; James (Maggie) of Allentown, PA; Judy (Robert) Schroeder of Renton, WA; Michael (Barbara) of Mantua; David (Lisa) of Westminister, MA; Regina (Michael) Mushrock of Stockton; Paul (Colleen) of Wappingers Falls, NY and Susan (John) Licciardello of Swedesboro. Loving grandmother of 24 and great grandmother of five. Babe was the sister of Jack (Kay) Wetzel and Mildred Wetzel of Florida; sister-in-law of Catherine Wetzel, Peggy (Michael) D;Allesandro and Francis (Joyce) O’Leary. Babe is predeceased by her grandson Timothy Collins and daughter-in-law, Allison O’Leary, her brother Richard and sister Phyllis.

Interment was held privately.

The City also owns Chatham Square, 100 apartments, Rt. 130 and Klemm Avenue, purchased last year for $4 million. The City wants to sell the site but does not want the new buyer to use the complex for apartments.

submitted by Catherine Gottert

This is an especially good year for snowy owls in New Jersey, said Don Freiday, director of bird programs for New Jersey Audubon\’s Cape May Bird Observatory in Middle Township, Cape May County. The owls have been spotted in Cumberland, Ocean and Cape May counties, along with the New Jersey Meadowlands and Sussex County.