BRANCHVILLE - Kathryn R. Bedell, age 94, passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at Bentley Assisted Living in Branchville. Born in Summit, on May 30, 1925, she was predeceased by her father, Samuel Rosselli; her mother, Sophie Urban Kent; and stepfather, Daniel E. Kent Jr. She was also predeceased by her husband, J. Linn Bedell III, in February 2008, whom she married Aug. 23, 1949.
Kathryn was a graduate of Newton High School, class of 1943, and State Teachers College, Trenton, class of 1947, and spent the vast majority of her teaching career at Newton High School teaching English and social studies. She taught for 40 years, retiring in 1989. She enjoyed teaching her many students, some of whom she continued to correspond with for many years after her retirement. She felt that her students were her children as she had none of her own. She was a woman with a brilliant mind, a pleasant and friendly manner and was greatly admired by her peers and students. She was a member of NJEA, NJREA and Delta Kappa Gamma.
Kathryn was known for her beautiful soprano singing voice and was asked by Carnegie Hall to audition for their scholarship program, which she turned down for a career in teaching. For years she sang on the float for the Christ Union Chapel at Culvers Lake for Sunday evening church services, sang for Easter Sunrise services and at many weddings.
Kathryn is survived by her brothers, Daniel E. Kent III (Carolyn), of Hampton, and Denton U. Kent (Sally), of Annandale, Va., and Sarasota, Fla. She is also survived by her nephews and nieces, Daniel E. Kent IV (Tammy), Kimberly A. Finnegan (Kevin), Todd M. Kent (Brenda), Kathryn Kent (Robert Patton) and Kerry Blumberg (Michael). Also surviving are her great-nephews and great-nieces, Daniel E. Kent V, Denton J. Kent, Mary K. Finnegan, Padraic J. Finnegan, Jackson Patton, Charlie Patton, Aidan R. Kent and Chase Blumberg. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Brenda Bedell Redden, of Hampton.
The family extends their gratitude for the loving care Bentley Assisted Living provided to Kathryn for the past two years.
A private graveside service will be held at Branchville Cemetery. All funeral arrangements are entrusted to Wood Funeral Home, 16 Main St., Branchville. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Baleville Congregational Church, 6 Church Road, Newton, New Jersey 07860. Online condolences may be offered at www.woodfuneralhome.com.

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Published by The New Jersey Herald on Apr. 14, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Kathryn Bedell

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12 Entries

Mary-Frances Wain

April 26, 2020

Mrs Bedell is one of those teachers whose fingerprints are with you for the rest of your life. I still think of her every rainy Wednesday. May she Rest In Peace.

Janet Earl

April 20, 2020

I often think of the Friday quizzes on the book that we had a week to read. She was hard but what I needed to stay in the college prep program. I will forever be grateful.

April 16, 2020

She was my English teacher and a good one too ! at 94 God gave her extra years because she deserved them !

Richard Packman

April 16, 2020

Mrs. Bedell was an extraordinary teacher. I was fortunate to have her as my English Teacher for my freshman and sophomore years at NHS. She was creative and inspiring, well organized,dedicated and knew her field inside and out whether it was prose, poetry, great works or just plain 'ole grammar. God forbid if you ever let a participle dangle or a verb not be in agreement.

She loved her students, which was obvious from the first to the last of the 360 days I spent with this superb teacher. She could be humorous and even laughed at herself. You were invited to learn and learning was expected to be at the level and effort commensurate with her level of instruction. She was the consummate professional in every sense of the word and a credit to the NHS faculty and staff she worked with for over forty years. God bless "Katie" Bedell and her wonderful family.

Richard E. Packman
NHS 1960

Leslie Satter '64

April 15, 2020

Mrs. Bedell was a wonderful teacher who saved her advice lectures for rainy days, which we looked forward to. She was much loved.

April 15, 2020

What a great teacher. Rest in Peace Mrs. Bedell.

Robert and Ginger Zeoli, NHS Class of 1959

Karen Gordon Tillotson

April 15, 2020

Mrs. Bedell was one of my favorite teachers. She was tough but I learned a lot. Because of her I can still remember lines from "The Raven" by Poe which she made us memorize. And from her vocabulary lessons I learned definitions of words I had never heard of. Even today when doing crossword puzzles a word learned from her will come up as a clue and I'll automatically think of Mrs. Bedell.
She was great friends with my mother, Hazel Gordon (physical education teacher) and my father, Hayes Gordon, principal).
She had a life well lived. My condolences to her family.

April 15, 2020

Yes, I well recall Mrs. Bedell. The English she taught me in 1952(?) has served me well professionally over the years. Robert Hough, Ph.D. Beaver Falls, PA

Dave Hegner

April 15, 2020

I taught with her at NHS. A great teacher and a great person. My deepest sympathy to all.

Ed Fransen

April 15, 2020

Rest well Mrs Bedell. You touched 1000s of lives of children from the Newton Public School System. We will be eternity greatful for your heart and compassion for making us better educated young adults.

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