Nadine "De" Gerrish Obituary

Nadine ‘De’ Gerrish, 84, longtime Watertown resident

Nadine “Deanie” “De” (Rose) Gerrish, 82, died peacefully Oct. 18, 2024, in Watertown, N.Y.

De was born June 29, 1942, in Greenwich, Conn., the youngest child and only daughter of the late Henry and Astrid (Wallen) Rose.

She lived in Greenwich for a few years before her family moved to New Fairfield. She was educated at New Fairfield Consolidated School and Danbury High School.

In her youth, she and her siblings and friends explored the woods of Candlewood Hills, and fished, swam and ice skated on Candlewood Lake. She was also a Girl Scout.

De worked as an assembler at Mosler Safe Co. and a teacher’s aide at the Walsh Center, both in Danbury, and later at Southbury Training School.

She moved to Watertown in 1975 and, with Harry Gerrish, raised three children.

She was active in her community, working at the Salvation Army and the Jefferson County Office for the Aging.

De appreciated learning, especially when it came to learning how things are made and function. She liked watching the Discovery and Weather channels, and reading cookbooks, do-it-yourself books, and magazines.

De enjoyed everything DIY and learned home repairs on her own. She liked tinkering around the yard and gardening and had a deep fondness for plants.  She especially loved going to estate sales with her daughter, Karen, with whom she lived for the past several months.

She is survived by three children, Tim Gerrish and his wife, Anne, of Lindenwold, N.J., Beverly Beardmore, of Copenhagen, and Karen Appleby, of Watertown; 13 grandchildren, including Ashley Gerrish, of Jacksonville, Fla., TJ Gerrish, of Belleville, N.Y., Dustin Gerrish, Brittany Beardmore, Hannah Mathous, Emily Mathous, Benjamin Gates, of Rocky Branch, La., Connor Gates, of Watertown, N.Y., Kaitlin Appleby and Cambria Appleby, both of Mishawaka, Ind., Cole Crawford, of Nashville Tenn., and Sophia Charles and Olivia McKissack, of Mize Miss.; 14 great-grandchildren; Noah, Patience, Elijah and Lacey Gerrish, Catherine Gerrish, Matthew Beardmore, Aubrey Fuson, Blake Fuson, Stephen Mashaw, Marlowe Gates, Ailah Gates, Lucas Gates, Amiyah Marie Becca and Keene Anthony Becca Jr.; nieces and nephews, mostly in Connecticut; and many cousins, including members of the Wallen family of Wisconsin and the Morris family, formerly of Connecticut. In addition to her parents, De was predecessor by her brothers, John, Ron, and Rob Rose.

There are no calling hours. Burial is private at Glenwood Cemetery.

Online condolence can be made at www.reedbenoit.com

Memorials may be made to Northern Regional Center for Independent Living (NRCIL), 210 Court St. #107, Watertown, NY 13601.