Edna Corbett

Edna Olive Corbett, 87, of Waldwick, New Jersey passed away peacefully on September 11th, 2023. Born on November 24, 1935 at home in Carlstadt, New Jersey, Edna was the daughter of the late Walter and Emma (nee Scott) Andariese.

Growing up in Carlstadt, Edna joined the Girl Scouts and became very active in the First Presbyterian Church of Carlstadt as a youth group leader. It was at this church that she developed a life-long passion of singing, most notably many traditional hymns. It was also in Carlstadt where she developed her love for cats.   

After graduating from East Rutherford High School as a member of the National Honor Society in 1953, she began work at the Federal Leather Company in Belleville where she worked for several years. She helped create a small women’s group from Carlstadt and Hasbrouck Heights who became lifelong friends.

It was at a youth church group meeting that she met the first love of her life, Gordon L. Corbett, Jr. of Paterson.  They were married in 1959, first moving to Little Ferry in 1960 and then Waldwick in 1963. Their son Glenn was born in 1960.  

Soon after moving to Waldwick, she and her husband joined the then-recently formed Presbyterian Church at Franklin Lakes, where she spent many years in the choir. Edna participated in a several Waldwick community groups including the Cub Scouts and Waldwick High School Band Parents. She worked at Buyers Laboratories in Hackensack for some time and served as a “cheer” worker for Bergen County where she visited the elderly in need.

Upon the sudden passing of her husband Gordon in 1981, Edna began working in the circulation department at The Record where her husband had worked as assistant chief photographer at the time of his death.  

After joining a local widowers’ group, she met her loving companion Ulrich Ziebarth of Hackensack. They moved to Cedar Glen Lakes in Whiting where they resided for many years and she joined the Community Reformed Church.  After his passing in 2012, Edna returned to live in Waldwick with her son Glenn and daughter-in-law Sharon whom she loved greatly. She also loved the companionship of Ollie and Zeva, her two feline friends.

Edna loved watching old movies and many of the stars in them.  She was particularly fond of Deanna Durbin and the actor S.Z Sakall, also known as “Cuddles.” She was an avid collector of paper dolls and enjoyed going to antique shows to find new treasures. She was a truly kind and compassionate person who brought joy and happiness to countless people.  

In addition to her parents, her husband Gordon, and her companion Ulrich she is predeceased by her sister Jean Louise, her brother Richard and his wife Jean, her sister-in-law Margaret, her mother and father-in-law Ruth and Gordon Corbett, Sr, as well as her nephew Dennis Andariese.

She is survived by her son Glenn and daughter-in-law Sharon, her brother Walter, her niece Susan and her husband George, her nephew Kurt and his wife Tracey, her nephew David and his wife Esther, her nephew Eric, many grand nieces and nephews, and Ulrike Bergin and her children, C.J. and Caroline.  

The family will receive friends from 3:00PM - 7:00PM on Wednesday September 13, 2023 at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481.  A funeral service will be held at 10:00AM on Thursday, September 14th, 2023 at High Mountain Presbyterian Church, 730 Franklin Lakes Road, Franklin Lakes, N.J. 07417. Interment will follow at the Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Paterson.

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