Elizabeth B. Neighbours, formerly of Southampton, died on July 25 at Crane’s Mill Lifecare Retirement Community in West Caldwell, New Jersey, after a long illness. She was 81.
Born November 7, 1926 in Evanston, Illinois, to Eleanor and Lawrence Bean, she moved with her family to Waterbury, Connecticut, where she and her younger brother attended school.
After earning a bachelor’s degree from Smith College in Massachusetts, she went to work in New York City, where she met John P. Patrick, who worked for a brokerage firm. The two were married and moved to Upper Montclair, New Jersey, and adopted two children. She and her husband were later divorced and she went to work as a technician for Dr. David Meriney in Upper Montclair.
Through mutual friends she met James W. Neighbours, and they were married in 1979. Her husband worked as a manager for Eastern Air Lines at Kennedy Airport, which enabled the couple to travel often. When her husband retired in 1982, they moved to his home in Southampton.
She enjoyed extensive travel through Europe, much of South America, Africa and Asia, staying at elderhostels with her husband in Europe, Africa, Russia, Australia and New Zealand. For three years she volunteered as a coordinator of the Elderhostel Program at Southampton College of Long Island University.
Active in the community, she worked as a volunteer for special events hosted by Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton, the Southampton Historical Society, and the Parrish Art Museum. In 1999, she and her husband moved to the Lifecare Retirement Community in New Jersey to be closer to family.
She is survived by her husband of 28 years, James Neigbours; a son, Alexander Patrick of Connecticut; a daughter, Ann Degener of New Jersey; and four grandchildren. She is also survived by three stepchildren, Marcia Kuechenmeister of Iowa City, James E. Neighbours of Massachusetts, and Janet Silverstein of New Jersey; and six step-grandchildren.
The family received visitors on July 30 at the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton, where a funeral service was officiated by Reverend Jack King, former pastor of the Southampton United Methodist Church. Interment followed at Southampton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Southampton United Methodist Church, 160 Main Street, Southampton, NY 11968 would be appreciated by the family.
on Jul 29, 2008