Obituary of Patricia Ann Merten

91, former Childrens’ Librarian of B’ville Library

Patricia (Pat) A. Merten, age 91, of Basking Ridge, NJ, passed away, in her home, on September 6^th 2023. She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Joseph, her brother James McCaul, her four children, Jeanne DePodwin (David), LynnAnne Robinson (Boyd), Jay (Mary) and Stephen (Nina), as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Pat was born in Brooklyn, NY to James Francis (Frank) and Frances McCaul (nee Cullen) on March 5th, 1932. She was the first in her family to graduate from college, with a degree in education from The State University of New York, New Paltz.  After marrying a young naval officer, Joseph (Joe) Francis Merten, she worked as an elementary school teacher in Rhode Island, and gave birth to the first of her four children. The young family proceeded to move around the northeast of the US, following Joe's blossoming career with Johnson and Johnson. 

They eventually landed in Bernardsville, NJ, where Pat recommenced her career, this time as a librarian at the Bernardsville Library. She served as a reference librarian, then children's librarian, concluding her time with the library as a member of the board to relocate and build the new town library. Throughout her life, she remained committed to "Service," volunteering as a Sunday School teacher and reading to underprivileged children.  However, her commitment to her family was always foremost in her thoughts. 

A funeral Mass will be held at 11am on Friday the 15^th of September at Saint James Church of Basking Ridge, 184 S. Finley Ave., Basking Ridge, NJ. 

Memorial donations can be made, in lieu of flowers, to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY, 10306 (website: t2t.org).