Veronica Streisel
1898-1977
Born: Pottsville, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: Elizabeth, Union, New Jersey, United States
1898-1977
Born: Pottsville, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: Elizabeth, Union, New Jersey, United States
<p>Entered into eternal rest on Saturday, June 18, 1977, Verionica Smith Kuell, age 79, of 327 Rolelsnd Place, Union, daughter of the late Anthony and Catherine Both Streisel, wife of William G. Kuell, Sr., mother of William G. Kuell, Jr., of Newport, Rhode Island, grandmother of Doreen and Robert.</p><p>Funeral will be held from the Leonard Home for Funerals, 242 West Jersey Street, Elizabeth, on Wednesday, June 23 at 9:30 a.m. thence to St. Michael Church, Elizabeth, where at 10:00 a.m. a Funeral Mass will be offered.</p><p>Interment in St. Geretrude's Cemetery, Colonia. </p><p>Viewing Monday 7-9, and Tuesday 2-5 and 7-9. </p>
<p>MRS. KUELL, WARTIME DRIVER</p><p>Union--Mrs. Verna Smith Kuell, 79, of 327 Roseland Place, died Saturday in St. Elizabeth Hospital, Elizabeth, after a brief illness. She was a Gold Star Mother. </p><p>Born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Mrs. Kuell lived in Elizabeth prior to coming here 30 years ago. She was a communicant of St. Michael R. C. Church, Elizabeth.</p><p>Mrs. Kuell was a volunteer truck driver for the American Red Cross during World War II.</p><p>She was the mother of William F. Smith, who was killed while serving in the Navy during World War II.</p><p>Surviving are her husband, William G, Sr., a son, William G., Jr., of Newport, Rhode Island, and two grandchildren.</p><p>The Leonard Home for Funerals, 242 West Jersey Street, has completed arrangements. </p>
In 1930, Veronica Streisel Smith and her son William were living in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Veronica, or Verna as she was called, had separated from her husband. They were living at 433 Court Street with my widowed grandmother, Lizzie Hollerbach Mason, and her sons Edward (my father) and Jack. Lizzie's husband Sam had passed away suddenly two years earlier.
<p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal geneva"><span style="white-space: pre"> </span></span><span style="white-space: pre"> </span>U.S.S. AARON WARD</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px"><span style="white-space: pre"> </span>c/o Fleet Post Office</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px"><span style="white-space: pre"> </span>San Francisco, Calif.</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; min-height: 15px; margin: 0px"> </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; min-height: 15px; margin: 0px"> </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">My dear Mrs. Streisel,</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; min-height: 15px; margin: 0px"> </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px"> It is with deepest regret that it becomes my sad duty to</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">inform you of the death of your gallant son who died in action</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">during an engagement with a Japanese Air Force on April 7, 1943.</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">He was instantly killed by a bomb explosion while at his battle </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">station in the fire room. His death was swift and merciful and</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">he went down with the ship to rest in an honored place. </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; min-height: 15px; margin: 0px"> </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px"> Burial services were held over the spot where our ship went</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">down. We are proud to have served with your noble son who so</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">gallantly and unselfishly gave his life for those high principles</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">for which we are all fighting to preserve.</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; min-height: 15px; margin: 0px"> </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px"> Your son had an undetermined amount of money due him and </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">you are advised to communicate directly with the Bureau of Supplies </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">and Accounts, Navy Department, Washington, D. C. concerning pay-</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">ment of that and the death gratuity. The enclosed check was </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">never endorsed by your son and you should take up the payment </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">of this check also with the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts.</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; min-height: 15px; margin: 0px"> </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px"> In your hours of grief and sorrow the officers and men of</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">the AARON WARD give you our heart felt sympathy. The memory of</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">your gallant son will live forever in the hearts of all of us</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">who had the honor and privilege of having him for a shipmate.</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; min-height: 15px; margin: 0px"> </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px"> May his heroic soul rest with God.</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; min-height: 15px; margin: 0px"><span style="white-space: pre"> </span></p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px"><span style="white-space: pre"> </span>Sincerely yours,</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; min-height: 15px; margin: 0px"> </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px"><span style="white-space: pre"> </span>F.J. BECTON</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px"><span style="white-space: pre"> </span>Lt-Comdr., USN,</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px"><span style="white-space: pre"> </span>Commanding.</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; min-height: 15px; margin: 0px"> </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; min-height: 15px; margin: 0px"> </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">Mrs. Veronica Streisel,</p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">137 Fifth Street, </p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal geneva; margin: 0px">Elizabeth, New Jersey.</p>
Verna was my mother's sister. She was the youngest of fourteen children and my mother was the oldest and the last two to die. Some of them died as children with diphtheria. One time they lost two in onw week.