WWII Veteran, United States Navy Catherine Tobin Neal, 90, died on November 2, 2015 in Branford CT, of natural causes. The oldest daughter of Peter and Rose Tobin, Ms. Neal was born in Old Chatham, New York in 1925. Norwalk, Connecticut however, was her beloved home.
A graduate of Norwalk High School, she was a member of the National Honor Society. She was also a graduate of Katherine Gibbs secretarial school. A veteran of the United States Navy, she proudly served as a WAVE during World War II.
Prior to her passing, she was one of the oldest surviving World War II veterans in the state of Connecticut. Mrs. Neal began her post Navy career as a secretary at Joyce beverages in New York City. She was employed for many years, until her retirement, as a legal secretary. Her interest and involvement in theater was well known, particularly as a stage manager or director of many local theater group productions. Favorite playwrights included Samuel Beckett and Edward Albee. She had a lifelong love of New York City, and attended many of Broadway’s classic shows from a young age until well into her 80’s, seeing some of the greats such as Richard Burton and Julie Andrews in “Camelot” and Cherry Jones in “Doubt”.
An avid reader, she was particularly fond of mystery novels. Her creative side extended to a love of art, and she showed her own talent through drawing. She enjoyed good food and an occasional glass of wine, and was a regular watcher of PBS television.
In her younger years she enjoyed traveling, often going solo- she would say it gave her the opportunity to be independent and meet interesting people.
Though she considered herself a loner, she was considerate and well liked by others. One of the things she was most proud of was her non-judgmental view of people and of life.
She is survived by her four children, Sheila Neal, Rebecca Thurlow, Maureen Polikoff, and Robert Neal, sons in law Robert Thurlow and Michael Polikoff, daughter in law Alisa Andrew, granddaughter Rosemary Thurlow, and three great-grandchildren, as well as her sister Alice Ballard, 89, and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents Peter and Rose Tobin, former husband Robert E. Neal, and sister Jane O’Neill.
Catherine Neal was a remarkably strong and independent woman who faced many of life’s challenges with dignity and a sense of humor, and was admired and respected by her many friends. She was a wonderful mother and an exceptional person who will be greatly missed by her loving family. There will a memorial service with military honors in the near future.
Published in The Hour on Nov. 16, 2015
A graduate of Norwalk High School, she was a member of the National Honor Society. She was also a graduate of Katherine Gibbs secretarial school. A veteran of the United States Navy, she proudly served as a WAVE during World War II.
Prior to her passing, she was one of the oldest surviving World War II veterans in the state of Connecticut. Mrs. Neal began her post Navy career as a secretary at Joyce beverages in New York City. She was employed for many years, until her retirement, as a legal secretary. Her interest and involvement in theater was well known, particularly as a stage manager or director of many local theater group productions. Favorite playwrights included Samuel Beckett and Edward Albee. She had a lifelong love of New York City, and attended many of Broadway’s classic shows from a young age until well into her 80’s, seeing some of the greats such as Richard Burton and Julie Andrews in “Camelot” and Cherry Jones in “Doubt”.
An avid reader, she was particularly fond of mystery novels. Her creative side extended to a love of art, and she showed her own talent through drawing. She enjoyed good food and an occasional glass of wine, and was a regular watcher of PBS television.
In her younger years she enjoyed traveling, often going solo- she would say it gave her the opportunity to be independent and meet interesting people.
Though she considered herself a loner, she was considerate and well liked by others. One of the things she was most proud of was her non-judgmental view of people and of life.
She is survived by her four children, Sheila Neal, Rebecca Thurlow, Maureen Polikoff, and Robert Neal, sons in law Robert Thurlow and Michael Polikoff, daughter in law Alisa Andrew, granddaughter Rosemary Thurlow, and three great-grandchildren, as well as her sister Alice Ballard, 89, and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents Peter and Rose Tobin, former husband Robert E. Neal, and sister Jane O’Neill.
Catherine Neal was a remarkably strong and independent woman who faced many of life’s challenges with dignity and a sense of humor, and was admired and respected by her many friends. She was a wonderful mother and an exceptional person who will be greatly missed by her loving family. There will a memorial service with military honors in the near future.
Published in The Hour on Nov. 16, 2015
WWII Veteran, United States Navy Catherine Tobin Neal, 90, died on November 2, 2015 in Branford CT, of natural causes. The oldest daughter of Peter and Rose Tobin, Ms. Neal was born in Old Chatham, New York in 1925. Norwalk, Connecticut however, was her beloved home.
A graduate of Norwalk High School, she was a member of the National Honor Society. She was also a graduate of Katherine Gibbs secretarial school. A veteran of the United States Navy, she proudly served as a WAVE during World War II.
Prior to her passing, she was one of the oldest surviving World War II veterans in the state of Connecticut. Mrs. Neal began her post Navy career as a secretary at Joyce beverages in New York City. She was employed for many years, until her retirement, as a legal secretary. Her interest and involvement in theater was well known, particularly as a stage manager or director of many local theater group productions. Favorite playwrights included Samuel Beckett and Edward Albee. She had a lifelong love of New York City, and attended many of Broadway’s classic shows from a young age until well into her 80’s, seeing some of the greats such as Richard Burton and Julie Andrews in “Camelot” and Cherry Jones in “Doubt”.
An avid reader, she was particularly fond of mystery novels. Her creative side extended to a love of art, and she showed her own talent through drawing. She enjoyed good food and an occasional glass of wine, and was a regular watcher of PBS television.
In her younger years she enjoyed traveling, often going solo- she would say it gave her the opportunity to be independent and meet interesting people.
Though she considered herself a loner, she was considerate and well liked by others. One of the things she was most proud of was her non-judgmental view of people and of life.
She is survived by her four children, Sheila Neal, Rebecca Thurlow, Maureen Polikoff, and Robert Neal, sons in law Robert Thurlow and Michael Polikoff, daughter in law Alisa Andrew, granddaughter Rosemary Thurlow, and three great-grandchildren, as well as her sister Alice Ballard, 89, and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents Peter and Rose Tobin, former husband Robert E. Neal, and sister Jane O’Neill.
Catherine Neal was a remarkably strong and independent woman who faced many of life’s challenges with dignity and a sense of humor, and was admired and respected by her many friends. She was a wonderful mother and an exceptional person who will be greatly missed by her loving family. There will a memorial service with military honors in the near future.
Published in The Hour on Nov. 16, 2015
A graduate of Norwalk High School, she was a member of the National Honor Society. She was also a graduate of Katherine Gibbs secretarial school. A veteran of the United States Navy, she proudly served as a WAVE during World War II.
Prior to her passing, she was one of the oldest surviving World War II veterans in the state of Connecticut. Mrs. Neal began her post Navy career as a secretary at Joyce beverages in New York City. She was employed for many years, until her retirement, as a legal secretary. Her interest and involvement in theater was well known, particularly as a stage manager or director of many local theater group productions. Favorite playwrights included Samuel Beckett and Edward Albee. She had a lifelong love of New York City, and attended many of Broadway’s classic shows from a young age until well into her 80’s, seeing some of the greats such as Richard Burton and Julie Andrews in “Camelot” and Cherry Jones in “Doubt”.
An avid reader, she was particularly fond of mystery novels. Her creative side extended to a love of art, and she showed her own talent through drawing. She enjoyed good food and an occasional glass of wine, and was a regular watcher of PBS television.
In her younger years she enjoyed traveling, often going solo- she would say it gave her the opportunity to be independent and meet interesting people.
Though she considered herself a loner, she was considerate and well liked by others. One of the things she was most proud of was her non-judgmental view of people and of life.
She is survived by her four children, Sheila Neal, Rebecca Thurlow, Maureen Polikoff, and Robert Neal, sons in law Robert Thurlow and Michael Polikoff, daughter in law Alisa Andrew, granddaughter Rosemary Thurlow, and three great-grandchildren, as well as her sister Alice Ballard, 89, and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents Peter and Rose Tobin, former husband Robert E. Neal, and sister Jane O’Neill.
Catherine Neal was a remarkably strong and independent woman who faced many of life’s challenges with dignity and a sense of humor, and was admired and respected by her many friends. She was a wonderful mother and an exceptional person who will be greatly missed by her loving family. There will a memorial service with military honors in the near future.
Published in The Hour on Nov. 16, 2015
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