Obituary of Ida Olivette Postell

Life Story My Mom, Ida, was born on February 17, 1934 in Ridgely, Maryland. She was one of six children born from the union of the late Loyd Steward and Mary Elizabeth. Two siblings preceded Ida in death, they were Margaret and Ronald. When she was five years of age she moved to Burden Hill to live with her favorite aunt whom she was named after. She attended Harmony Elementary, a one room school house in Hancock, NJ just outside Salem County. When she was fifteen she moved with her family to 1409 W. Thompson Street. She attended William Penn High School for girls. While attending high school, she met the late Fred G. Postell and from their union two children were born, Gerald and Jennifer. Fred and Ida moved the family to 1821 73rd Avenue, in the West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia. Ida worked in several factories as a seamstress until she retired in 1988 when Dad had a stroke. After dad became ill, Mom began a crusade that lasted until Dad passed away in 2006. She would go to Manor Care Nursing Home in Cherry Hill, early in the morning and remain there until late in the evenings, seven days a week. "None of the nurses could take care of Fred like I can" she would often say. She got Dad up in the morning, washed, dressed and fed him and repeated that routine each night. She would even put him to bed before going home. She started baking cakes and cooking food for the staff. Everyone was always in my Dad's room. Management had to have a meeting declaring that only the staff assigned to his room was allowed. Sometimes when asked where was she going, she would often reply, "to work", "I mean to see Fred". This daily routine became her life. her story is one of 18 years of true commitment and dedication to my father. A true example of , Human Boundage, that's rarely seen today. Mom leaves to cherish, her precious memories, her children Gerald and Jennifer; one son-in-law, Leslie; two brothers, Purcell and Alvin; one sister, Jacqueline; one brother-in-law, Thomas; one sister-in-law, Jean; eleven grandchildren, Gerald Jr., Danyelle and husband Rondell, Darren Sr. and his wife Onya, Kristen, Leslie III and his wife Tracey, David and his wife Tameka, Stephon and his wife Keisha, Stephanie and husband Garrett, Cherise, Shawnique and Diamond. And a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends she has met over the years. Last but not least, her best friend Carol.