Victoria Nicktern

VICTORIA KWIATKOSKI NICKTERN was born September 25, 1900 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Vincent and Dora Kwiatkowski. The family moved to Camden thereafter, and three children, Wassie, Rosie, and Frank followed. When the Census was taken in 1910, the family, which also included Dora’s parents Joseph and Mary Buoskowski, lived at 926 Federal Street. By the end of 1919 Vincent Kwiatkowski had passed, and his widow Dora had moved to 224 North 12th Street.

Victoria Kwiatkowski had met a young man from Camden, George Nicktern, and the two fell quite in love. World War I intervened, however, and George, who had previously served in the United States Army, returned to service. Upon his return they wed, and by 1920 the couple lived at 1152 Penn Street when the census was taken in January of 1920. He was then working at a leather factory. George and Victoria Nicktern would remain at the Penn Street address through at least April of 1930. By then there were two daughters, Elizabeth and Edna. Victoria Nicktern’s brother, Frank Kwiatkowski, resided with the family as well.

George Nicktern joined the Camden Police Department on September 1, 1925. By June of 1940 the family was living at 20 Leonard Avenue in East Camden. The Nickterns were active with the Mathews-Purnell Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, whose post home was at 2712 Hayes Avenue in Cramer Hill. In 1951 Victoria Nicktern served as president of the post’s Ladies Auxiliary.

George S. Nicktern passed away on March 9, 1952 and was buried at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, NJ three days later. His wife Victoria Nicktern remained at the home on Leonard Avenue until 1972. Her last days were spent with her daughter Edna in Pine Beach, NJ. Victoria Nicktern passed away on December 17, 1995 and lies next to her husband.

By MAE E. GIFFORD

New officers of the ladies auxiliary of the Corporal Matthews-Purnell Post 518, VFW, will be installed at the post home, 2712 Hayes Avenue, Thursday night. Mrs. Theresa Mungioli, past department president, will act as conductress and install the following: Mrs. Victoria Nicktern, president; Mrs. Mary Clifford and Mrs. Betty Horner, vice presidents; Mrs. Carrie Bean, treasurer; Mrs. Ruth Ibe, secretary; Mrs. Etta Popaycik, chaplain; Mrs. Filomena Frati, conductress; Mrs. Anna Mathews, guard; Mrs. Alberta Mulford, trustee.

Delegates to the district are Mrs. Beatrice Fredericks, Mrs. Edna Weaver, Mrs. Ella Gaunt, Mrs. Horner and Mrs. Mulford. Alternates are Mrs. Margaret Worrell, Mrs. Edna Flanagan, Mrs. Ella Hasher, Mrs. Anna Messick, Mrs. Frati and Mrs. Mathews.

Mrs. Bean and Mrs. Mungioli helped install a new auxiliary at the Collingswood VFW post last Wednesday. Thursday the Matthew-Purnell auxiliary held a dinner at Kenney’s honoring Department President Mrs. Carrie.

Irving L. Stiefel, veteran of World War II, who received a Bronze Star for heroism on Okinawa, will be installed tonight as commander of Corporal Mathews-Purnell Post 518, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Past Department Commander Joseph H. Meade will act as installing officer. Stiefel served in the 77th Division during World War II, serving in the Pacific-Asiatic theatre.

Others to be installed are Orris Smith, senior vice commander; Robert Cornog, junior vice commander; Chester Knaub Sr., quartermaster; Burroughs Messick, adjutant; John H. Mohrfeld 3d, post advocate; Stephen L. Walter, chaplain; Chester Knaub Jr., surgeon; and John Morgandale, officer of the day.

Also, Alvah S. Ward, patriotic instructor; John Mulford, historian; William Mountney Jr., service officer; Paul H. Fredericks Sr., legislative officer; James Flanigan Sr., two-year trustee; Amos Hawk, one-year trustee; William Mountney Sr., assistant adjutant; Edward Kinsley, guard; Clifford Knaub, national color bearer; Frederick Sauer, post 61 color bearer; James Flanigan Jr., bugler; Joseph Hasher, public relations officer; Orris Smith, entertainment chairman; William Mountney Jr., canteen chairman; William Mountney Sr., poppy chairman; Stephen L. Walter, Memorial Day chairman; and Louis Kupper, State Fair chairman.

Mrs. Victoria Nicktern will be installed as president of the post auxiliary by Past Department President Carrie R. Bean assisted by Conductress Theresa Mungioli, who also is a past department president. Also to be seated are Mrs. Mary Clifford, senior vice president; Mrs. Betty Horner, junior vice-president; Carrie R. Bean, treasurer; Ruth Ibe, secretary; Mrs. Etta Papaycik, chaplain; Mrs. Filomena Fratti, conductress; Mrs. Anna Mathews, guard; Mrs. Alberta Mulford, trustee, and the following delegates to the district convention: Mrs. Beatrice Fredericks, Mrs. Edna Weaver, Mrs. Clifford, Mrs. Horner, Mrs. Ella Gauntt and Mrs. Mulford. Alternates are Mrs. Fratti, Mrs. Margaret Worrel, Mrs. Mathews, Mrs. James Flanigan, Mrs. Ella Hasher and Mrs. Anna Messick. A buffet will be served after the installations.

NEW OFFICERS elected by the Ladies Auxiliary of Mathews-Purnell Post 518, VFW, will be installed Thursday night at the post home, 2712 Hayes Avenue. They include Mrs. Victoria Nicktern, president; Mrs. Mary Clifford, senior vice president; Mrs. Betty Horner, junior vice-president; Carrie R. Bean, treasurer; Ruth Ibe, secretary; Mrs. Etta Papaycik, chaplain; Mrs. Filomena Fratti, conductress; Mrs. Anna Mathews, guard; Mrs. Alberta Mulford, trustee.

VFW Auxiliary Names’ Committee Heads

Mrs. Millie Petit was appointed color bearer by Mrs. Victoria Nicktern, president of the Ladies Auxiliary of Cpl. Mathews-Purnell Post 518, VFW. Other appointments include Mrs. Bean, building fund chairman; Mrs. Margaret Worrell, national home fund; Mrs. Mary Clifford, Americanization fund; Mrs. Etta Papaycik, New Jersey Cottage fund; Mrs. Phil Frati, legislation chairman; Mrs. Catherine Corbett, ways and means committee head; Mrs. Bertha Klose, Red Cross chairman; and Mrs. Elizabeth Knaub, chairman of the cancer and publicity committees.

Mathews-Purnell Aides To Meet Wednesday

The ladies auxiliary of Corporal Mathews-Purnell VFW Post 518 will meet Wednesday evening in the post hall, 2712 Hayes avenue. Mrs. Victoria Nicktern will head a committee including Mrs. Carrie Bean, Mrs. Beatrice Fredericks, Mrs. Mary Clifford, Mrs. Esther Rowand, Mrs. Millie Petit, Mrs. Anna Mathews, Mrs. Margaret Worrell and Mrs. Elizabeth Knaub.

Corporal Mathews-Purnell Post No. 518 will celebrate its 30th anniversary at a dinner with the Ladies Auxiliary in the parish hall of the St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church, River Avenue and Twenty-eighth Street, Saturday, at 7 p. m. This will be the 29th anniversary for the auxiliary. The Rev. William J. O’Rourke will give the invocation, the Rev. Warren G. Jennings will say grace and Rabbi Max Weine the benediction.

Eleven Gold Star Mothers will be honored guests of Commander Irving J. Stiefel. Other invited guests are Congressman Wolverton, Mrs. Alice Trimble, department senior vice president, Ladies Auxiliary; Mrs. Florence E. Stark, past national president; Mrs. Mary Norcross, Seventh District president; Mrs. Victoria Nicktern, president of the 518 auxiliary; and many others. The toastmaster will be Stoolman.

At a meeting of the post at 2712 Hayes Avenue, Stiefel welcomed two new members, Robert C. Barr, who served in the army, and Gordon Kraft, navy, in World War II.

LADIES AUXILIARY of VFW Post 518 will hold its Christmas party tonight at the post home, 2712 Hayes avenue. The party is being held in conjunction with the post, and is in charge of Mary Clifford, chairman, and Mrs. Victoria Nicktern, president.

Mrs. Victoria Nicktern presided at the regular weekly meeting of the Ladies Auxiliary 518, VFW, Friday night. The post’s annual Christmas party will be held at the post home next Thursday night. Mrs. Mary Clifford has been named chairman of the party committee.