Funeral for Katherine Newcomer, 23

A memorial service was held Monday morning for Katherine Newcomer, 23, at First United Methodist Church of Westfield. Newcomer died Aug. 12 at Overlook Hospital after a brief illness. She was a life-long Scotch Plains resident.

Newcomer worked as a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She graduated the Seton Hall University School of Nursing with honors in 2009, and Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in 2005. She was member of the National Nursing Honor Society.

"I along with many at CHOP had the pleasure of getting to know Kate," wrote Jennifer Houck, of Williamstown, on a memorial website for Newcomer. "She was indeed a beautiful young woman with so much joy in her heart! I pray that your sorrow turns to joy knowing how Kate left a lasting impression on so many of us here in the NICU."

Ema Urbanski, of Williamstown, also worked with Newcomer. "She was always such a ray of sunshine-even at 7am!" Urbanski wrote on the memorial website. "She was an excellent nurse and she really embraced the NICU. One could tell it was a speciality she was meant to be in."

Kate is remembered by her friends and family for her friendliness and good cheer. "She touched everyone with her energy, grace, and caring," wrote members of the Lesko family, of Westfield. "Her wonderful smile brightened any day and we are richer for her being a part of our lives. We are greatly saddened, and will cherish fond memories of spending time with Kate swimming, dancing and being friends."

Newcomer is survived by her parents, Charlie and Margie Newcomer; her sisters, Allison and Jane; her grandparents, John and Alice Fife; her aunt and uncle, Kathy and Chris Perretta; her aunt, Linda Newcomer and her cousins, Annie and CJ Perretta and Nathan Fife. She also leaves behind her longtime boyfriend, Mike Slaff. She was predeceased by her uncle, John Randall Fife. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation. Donations can be accepted online at giving.chop.edu or by mail to Lockbox 1352, P.O Box 8500, Philadelphia, PA 19178-1352.

To leave messages for Newcomer's family and friends, visit the Memorial Funeral Home website or Tributes.com.