Obituary of Audrey S. Ketelsen

Audrey S. (Sorensen) Ketelsen, 91, passed away on Thursday December 19, 2019 at her residence in Monroe Twp. Audrey was born and raised in Staten Island. She had many fond memories of spending her summers in Cape Cod, helping with the family business when school was out. Audrey graduated from Curtis High School and attended Catherine Gibbs. After marriage and starting a family, she became a founding member of Hillside Swim Club where she and her family made many lifelong friends and memories. After her children went to school, she herself went back to college to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. She got her bachelor's and master's degrees and continued on to get 30 credits above her master's. Audrey was employed as an English teacher at IS61 in Randall Manor on Staten Island for most of her 25 year career. While teaching,she taught steno and typing at the adult education program after school and in the evenings. Audrey loved teaching and always spoke of her work and the children with such love. She moved to Rossmoor in 1997 upon retirement. She loved and embraced the lifestyle and community there, becoming very involved in many clubs and activities. Audrey enjoyed playing golf and was very excited the day she got a hole in one! She is also an avid reader and loved to play competitive bridge along with socializing with friends. She also played tennis and croquet and was a member of the Emerald society, monthly book club and 18 hole ladies golf club. Audrey loved to travel and visited all the cities in Europe, Russia and Asia, taking one of her last big trips to Ireland at the age of 88 to visit her Granddaughter who was studying abroad. She will always be remembered for her optimism and zest for life. Audrey was preceded in death by her husband, William Ketelsen (1996), two sons: David Alan Ketelsen and William Drew Ketelsen and one brother, Frank Sorensen. She is survived by her son, Kevin Ketelsen and his wife Dana of Colts Neck, her daughter, Diane DeVito of Basking Ridge, five grandchildren: Kristina Gradzki and her husband Pawel, Kevin Felix Ketelsen and Lauren, Christopher and Kaitlyn DeVito, one great grandson, James Jozef Gradzki and her sister-in-law, Catherine Sorensen. Also surviving are many extended family members and friends. A memorial service will be 10:30am on Saturday January 4, 2020 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church - 347 Davis Ave., Staten Island, NY 10310 followed by inurnment in Moravian Cemetery - 2205 Richmond Rd., Staten Island, NY 10306. Cremation was private and held under the direction of M. David DeMarco Funeral Home, Inc. - 205 Rhode Hall Rd., Monroe Twp., NJ 08831 - 732-521-0555 - www.demarcofuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Audrey may be directed to the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Foundation, 23 Main St., Suite D1, Holmdel, NJ 07733. Please specify you would like your gift directed to Central Jersey Hospice in memory of Audrey Ketelsen