Obituary of Jean Merrill

Jean F. Merrill, retired schoolteacher, 91 Jean Merrill of Basking Ridge, NJ, passed away at her home on Monday, April 18, 2011 at the age of 91. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 from 7-9pm at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave., Basking Ridge. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 11am at the St. James Catholic Church 184 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge. Mrs. Merrill was born in Saginaw Michigan on May 10, 1919. She was the daughter of the late Ezra and Helen Duffy Finkbeiner. She was valedictorian of her high school class at St. Andrew's High School in Saginaw, Michigan and graduated Phi Theta Kappa from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in education. She taught elementary education in Saginaw, Michigan and Rocky River, Ohio and in her later years worked in her children's antique shop in Morristown. She also did tutoring and volunteer work for Meals on Wheels, St. James Helping Hands, the VA hospital and Matheny School. She was a member of the Delta Sigma Epsilon Sorority at EMU, the Bonafides of Somerset Hills, and the AAUW. She was an avid bird-watcher and in her younger years she enjoyed golf, bridge and square dancing at the Meyersville Grange. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, John, her son, John, daughters Delia and Caitlin (aka Susan), and her brother James. She is survived by her daughters, Helen Picone and her husband, Robert, Theresa Merrill and her partner Byung-Woo Jun; her son, Ray, and his wife, Joyce; her twin sister, Helen Mastromarco of Saginaw, Michigan; and grandchildren, Jeanet Picone and her husband Prasad Ranadive, William, Brian and Lauren Merrill and numerous nieces, nephews and "adopted" grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills, 200 Mt. Airy Rd, Basking Ridge.