Nevin Nevres Atadan was born in Ordu, Turkey in 1927 near the Black Sea. As a young child she moved to Istanbul and soon after lost her father. She was raised by her grandmother in her seaside hometown of Uskadar with her two sisters, as her mother worked in a hospital to support the family. As a teenager she attended a teacher’s school and worked at the Central Post Office in a job she dearly loved. She then met her future husband Erdem. While Erdem studied in America for a doctorate in engineering, they wrote letters until he returned. They married and took a boat in 1949 to America. They first lived in Knoxville, TN, then Salem, NJ, Penns Grove, NJ and finally Wilmington, DE where they settled in 1962.
Raising her 5 children on wonderful Turkish foods, she loved music and had a beautiful singing voice full of joy and warmth. She had a sweetly mischievous sense of humor, loved the beach and loved going to outdoor markets. She was incredibly giving and forgiving and never asked anything for herself, always putting family first. Whenever her children would hug her and tell her “I love you” she would say always “I love you more”. She passed away peacefully in her sleep April 26th next to her loving daughter Selma.
She joins her husband of 69 years Erdem and son John. She is survived by her children Suzan Cerceo (Joe), Selma Jones (Dennis), Denis and David (Janice). Her grandchildren Jennifer Barnes, Kristin and Brett Wilhide, Thomas and Daniel Atadan. Her great granddaughters Lena and Morgan Cox.
A private service will be held for those who knew Nevin or met her and was touched by her spirit. Donations can be made to alz.org and parkinson.org.
