Andrée Petricek

Andrée was born on October 20, 1924 in Metz, France. She was the daughter of Eugene and Mary Becker Rederstorff who preceded her to America. Andrée's parents worked hard and saved money to bring their children (Andrée and Marcel) to America eight years later. While waiting for their passage to the United States, Andrée and Marcel were raised in France by their Aunt Marguerite. Andrée finally arrived in America at the age of 10 on the Ile de France ocean liner accompanied by a nurse companion. She settled with her family in Clifton, NJ and began the tasks of learning English, attending school and adapting to the American culture. She later graduated from the Passaic General Hospital School of Nursing. Andrée married her husband, Bruno, in 1944 and moved to Fair Lawn, NJ in 1947. The couple moved to The Fairways at Lake Ridge in Lakewood, NJ in 1999. Andrée and Bruno were very happily married for 71 years.

Andrée is survived by her beloved daughter, Dr. Gail L. Petricek and her wife Patricia O'Keefe; her son, Allen B. Petricek and his wife Debbie; her nephew, Barry Rederstorff and his wife Carol, and her niece Donna Birbiglia and her husband Richard. Andrée was the sister of the late Marcel Rederstorff. She leaves behind many close church and community friends including Irene Gargiulo.

For many years, Andrée worked as a registered nurse at Passaic General Hospital, Passaic, NJ. She retired in 1989. In addition, Andrée was extremely involved in community service. She was President of the Church Council of St. John Lutheran Church in Passaic and a past officer of the Lutheran Church Women. She chaired the 100th Anniversary Celebration Committee of St. John Lutheran Church. She served as the President of the Lyncrest School PTA and as Vice President of the Fair Lawn School Council.

In recent years, Andrée was a member of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America of Christ Lutheran Church in Whiting, NJ. In addition, she belonged to the Kimball Medical Center Auxiliary and the Fairways Women's Club. She continued to serve the nursing profession as a volunteer by conducting blood pressure screenings at her church and the "The Fairways."

Andrée was very creative and enjoyed interior design, reading, baking and public speaking. Her home was her pride and joy. Andrée and her neighbors especially enjoyed exchanging interior design ideas for their houses. She generously shared her home-baked European-style pastries during the weekly Fellowship Hour at her church. Andrée delighted in many fun times playing cards and dominoes with her friends and loved to share the inspirational and humorous clippings she found in magazines and newspapers.

Au revoir mes amies!

Viewing hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at the D'Elia Funeral Home, 1300 Vermont Avenue, Lakewood, N.J. A funeral service will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the D'Elia Funeral Home followed by the interment at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Totowa, N.J.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 40 Schoolhouse Road, Whiting, NJ 08759.

For further information, or to post a tribute online, please visit www.deliafuneralhome.com.

To be in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, visitors should wear a mask when entering the building and exercise social distancing.