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- Stella Adele Smith was bornin Wallington, New Jersey, on December 14, 1885, the oldest child in her family. He parents were divorced and her mother left Adele and brother, Henry, in the care of her grandparents, John and Catherine Prentice, who owned a farm in Bergen County, NJ, where the town of Woodridge now stands. Adele attended school until Grade 8 but received special tutoring from the teacher which took her beyond the usual course. She became a seamstress, going into the homes of nearby landowners to assemble a wardrobe. Company from New York often picknicked at the farm when aunts, uncles, and cousins traveled out from the city for the day. Many were of Holland Dutch ancestory. A cousin riker nce owned riker's Island in New York Bay. For many years, Adele, an accomplished pianist, played for the Sunday School at the Reformed Church near Wallington. In 1908 she became engaged to C. Walter Crockett. The long engagement was a period of trial since Adele put aside friends of her youth, but her fiancee felt that a man should marry only when his income was adequate. In 1911 they were married and, after two years in an apartment, settled at a new house at 46 Myrtle Street, Rtherford, New Jersey. five children followed. Summers were spent at Green Pond where the children learned to swim very early. Winters wre filled with neighborhood parties and trips to NYC. Adele always did her Christmas shopping near 33rd Street, going in on the train, only 22 minutes from home, The company chauffeur was available for shorter trips. Business prosperity after WWI meant that the Crocketts owned the best and biggest car on the block and the latest model radio. In 1929 Adele left dear friends for a move to Lancaster, PA, and a stately three story rented double mansion on Chestnut Street, Lancaster. Here in a Pennsylvania German community, friends were not easily made; however, she joinged the Lancaster Women's Club for a time and became very active in school affairs. When the income fell too low, she applied for WPA work, riseing to head of the Lancaster sewing project. She was well liked and very successful. When her husband died, she had a son at Lehigh University and four daughters to be educated. Very skillfully, she handled resources so that each found a career. In 1941 she applied as housekeeper to Julius Keller. They were married and lived at 1421 E. King Street, Lancaster, PA. Because Julius liked to collect small items at home sales, Adele, became a collector of antiques, particularly pressed glass. She assembled enough to give each of 5 children a full matching set. An avid bridge player, she learned duplicate bridge in Lancaster. When Julius died, Adele remained at the old house. Her yearly August picnic brought children, grandchildren and others for miles. She died at 93 in 1979, active to the end with her backyard garden and her canning. A brass tablets marks her remains at Fairview Cemetery, south of Lancaster.
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1885 - 1979 (93 years)
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