Obituary of Irene P Hicks

Irene Hicks, age 85, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, died peacefully on March 6, 2014, surrounded by loving family members. Irene was born in New Brunswick, NJ. Her family moved to Old Bridge, NJ and later, to Basking Ridge in 1943. In Basking Ridge, her family opened the Somerset Hills Florist on Madisonville Road. Irene graduated from Bernards High School in 1945. She graduated from Berkeley Business School and became an executive secretary at Karastan Carpets in New York City. Irene sang professionally with her two sisters, Della (Eugenia) and Mary. She also enjoyed playing the piano and was an avid bridge player and Jeopardy fan. Irene loved to travel and counts visits to Alaska, British Colombia, Hawaii, Europe, Korea, China, the Caribbean Islands, the Panama Canal, and every state as some of her travel highlights. She also loved vacations to the beach and going out to dinner. She was a Girl Scout Leader for her daughters’ troop and volunteered as home room mother for her children’s grade school classes. She was a master pie maker. She spent many hours supporting the outside interests of her children, including scouting and competitive swimming. Irene was a superb mother and wife, and her compassion, kindness, courage, and love live on in all those who knew her. She was a longtime member of St. James Catholic Church in Basking Ridge, NJ. Survivors include her beloved husband of 63 ½ years, Ernest C. Hicks; three children, Ernest E. Hicks of Basking Ridge, NJ, Dr. Karen A. Hicks of Silver Spring, MD, and Mary C. Castiglia of Pattersonville, NY; son-in-law, Walter F. Castiglia and grandson, Cody F. Castiglia, of Pattersonville, NY; and two sisters, Mary H. Zarski of Bel Air, MD and Eugenia H. Munroe of Morgantown, WV. The Hicks family extends its deepest gratitude to all of Irene’s caregivers, including Jennifer Cuff, R.N. and Maria Joseph, CHHA, of the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills (Hospice Care) and Nicole Gabriel, CHHA, of Helping Hands. Friends and family are invited to gather at Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home located at 101 South Finley Avenue in Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 on Friday, March 14, 2014 from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. A recitation of the rosary will begin at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m., family members will remember Irene with personal comments. A Mass of the Resurrection will be offered on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 10 a.m. at The Church of Saint James (original church) located at 184 S. Finley Avenue in Basking Ridge. Interment will follow at Somerset Hills Memorial Park located at 95 Mount Airy Road in Basking Ridge. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Basking Ridge Fire Company No. 1 and Rescue Squad, Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills (Hospice Care), and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.