Nerida J. Bogdanovic

Friends are invited to a Celebration of the Life of Nerida Jean Bogdanovic in her garden at 1:30 p.m. September 17. Nerida, whose name means red water lily, died at home on January 30, 2022. She was 81. She was a passionate and talented gardener who studied horticultural therapy following a long and successful career as a physical therapist. She also loved photography, needlepoint, knitting and searching for vintage treasures at local and regional flea markets. Born November 22, 1940 in Barraba, NSW, Australia, she was the daughter of the late Spencer and Phyllis Witten. The eldest of five children, Nerida spent her early childhood happily playing with her siblings and doing chores on the family property, “Wyndella.” Her education began at the Barraba Public School and continued at NEGS (New England Girls School) in Armidale, NSW. After graduating from NEGS, she went to the University of Sydney, School of Physiotherapy, and completed her studies there in 1961. Nerida first worked at St. Vincent’s Hospital and then at the North Ryde Psychiatric Center. She also saw private patients locally. In December 1962, she married Bogdan Bogdanovic, a political refugee from war-torn Yugoslavia, whom she had met several years earlier. They lived in Double Bay until 1968, when Bogdan who spoke fluent French, accepted a job offer in Montreal, Canada. Together, they flew to Vancouver and traveled across Canada by train to Montreal on the Canadian Express. In Montreal, Nerida took a job at the Royal Victoria Hospital where she worked until Bogdan took a job in New York. They moved there in December 1968 and settled into life in the New York City suburbs. Following the birth of their daughter, Nerida became a stay-at-home mother for several years. She returned to work as a physical therapist at the Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center in Stamford. When the family relocated, to Greenwich, she took another job as a physical therapist at The Nathaniel Witherell, where she worked for many years before taking an early retirement in 2003. Even in “retirement” Nerida continued working as a part-time and fulltime physical therapist in Greenwich. Survivors include her daughter, Alexandra Bogdanovic, of Greenwich; four brothers, David Witten, Robert Witten, Geoffrey Witten, and Ian Witten (and their wives), all of Australia; and by her uncle, aunt, cousins, many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition to her parents, Nerida was predeceased by her husband. To leave an online condolence please visit www.Lacarenzafh.com