Obituary of Jean R. McGuirk

Jean McGuirk, 92, formerly of Florham Park, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at her daughter’s home in Whippany, NJ where she had resided for the past 18 months.

Born in East Orange, New Jersey, Jean lived in Florham Park for over 50 years, where she and her husband Donald raised five children and tended to their beloved home on Circle Road. They shared a partnership filled with love, honor, and respect for one another and made sure that their children felt that love and unending support as well. Known as a hard worker by all, Jean graduated from West Orange High School in 1949 and was employed as a telephone operator for Bell Atlantic Telephone for over 30 years before retiring in 1992.

Jean remained active in her community throughout her entire life. She was a long-time parishioner of Holy Family Church in Florham Park, as well as an active member of both the Florham Park Senior Citizen’s Club and the Suburbanites.

The heart of Jean’s life was her family. After the passing of her loving husband, Donald, when she was only 57 years old, she found the strength and courage to move forward. With her love, guidance, and commitment her family thrived and through her example, her children are each now blessed with families of their own. She cherished her nine grandchildren, and was often found cheering them on at their endless sports games and school activities. They were her pride and joy and her love for them was deep and profound. This past January, her wish for a great grandchild was answered with the arrival of her first great grandchild, Tessa. She was overjoyed.   In her spare time, she traveled throughout Europe and the U.S. Most recently, Jean visited many of the national parks on trips with her children and grandchildren. She was a lover of books, a passionate NY Yankees supporter, and an avid fan of John Denver, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett. She spent many of her summers at the New Jersey shore and loved taking long walks on the boardwalk and relaxing on the porch while reading and listening to music.

Jean is survived by her devoted children, George McGuirk and his wife, Theresa; Patricia Judd and her husband, Steve; Don McGuirk and his wife, Maria; Mary O’Connor and her husband, Daren; and Robert McGuirk and his wife, Peggy. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren, Elisabeth McGuirk and her partner John Petty, Grace McGuirk and her fiancé Michael Fortunato, Bryan Judd and his wife Sarah, Shaun Judd; Lauren, Brendan and Kelsey O’Connor; Daniel and Theo McGuirk; as well as her great-granddaughter, Tessa Petty. Jean was predeceased by her parents, Vito and Mary Rauseo; her loving husband, Donald McGuirk (1987); and her beloved siblings, Michael Rauseo, Nancy Pisano, Vito Rauseo, and Anthony Rauseo.

Family and friends are welcome to gather on Friday, July 21, 2023 from 4-8pm at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, 106 Main Street, Madison, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial for Jean will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 10:00am at Holy Family Church, 1 Lloyd Avenue, Florham Park, NJ. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the memory of Jean to: Tunnel to Towers Foundation (www.t2t.org), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).