Life Story: Aurelia Brandi Sterbenz, 93; Former Somerset Resident, Nursing Instructor

Aurelia Sterbenz (nee Brandi) passed away Feb. 10 at St Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick. She was a resident of Parker at Stonegate in Highland Park. She was 93 years old.

Mrs. Sterbenz was born in Middletown, N.Y. and moved to New York City after high school where she attended St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center School of Nursing. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing as well as a Master of Science in Anatomy and Physiology from St. John’s University in Queens. While in graduate school, she married her husband, Frank Sterbenz. The two lived in Jersey City and Fords before settling down in Somerset in 1965. They were also part-time residents of a shore community of Mystic Island, NJ.

Mrs Sterbenz was a nursing instructor, first at St. Vincent School of Nursing in New York and later at St. Peter’s School of Nursing in New Brunswick. She also taught at Middlesex Vocational School as an LPN instructor. Her last position before retiring was at Parker Home in New Brunswick as a supervisor.

She was a longtime parishioner of St. Peter the Apostle Church in New Brunswick. She volunteered her time on the church’s Liturgical Environment Committee, decorating the church during the holidays and taking care of the altar linens. She acted as a Eucharistic Minister both in church and for the sick in St. Peter’s University Hospital.

Mrs. Sterbenz found great enjoyment from her grandchildren and her various hobbies, including painting and knitting.

She was predeceased by her husband Dr. Francis Sterbenz in 2011.

Mrs. Sterbenz is survived by her children, Gertrude Janssen and her husband Peter of Somerset, Joseph Sterbenz and his wife Linda of Long Valley, Dr. George Sterbenz and his wife Constance of Hudson, Ohio and her grandchildren Peter, Kaitlin, Christopher, Frankie and Julia.

Funeral services will begin at 9:15 a.m. on Feb. 18 at the Gleason Funeral Home, 1360 Hamilton St., followed by a 10 a.m. funeral mass at St. Peter the Apostle Church in New Brunswick. Entombment will follow at Resurrection Mausoleum in Piscataway.

Visiting will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Feb. 17 at the Gleason Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Mrs. Sterbenz’s name to St. Peter the Apostle R.C. Church, 94 Somerset Street New Brunswick NJ 08901.

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