Obituary of Cecilia Monahan

Cecilia S. Monahan went to the Lord on January 23, 2015 at St. Clare's Hospice, Dover, New Jersey. Cecilia was born on January 1, 1921 in Avoca, PA one of nine children of the union of Jozef Gruszka and Marianna Gruszka. On January 15, 1944, Cecilia married Joseph Gregg Monahan who survives her. Cecilia met her husband while employed at National Pneumatic, Rahway, New Jersey. Sergeant Monahan was escorting film actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr on a war bond tour through the plant. They fell in love at first sight. In 1946, Cecilia and Joseph purchased a modest home in then rural Warren Township, Somerset County, New Jersey where she resided until her passing. Cecilia was a coal miner's daughter who understood the work ethic. She was employed through her adult life as a secretary and staff assistant at Mack Trucks, Plainfield, New Jersey; Squires & Sanders, Liberty Corner, New Jersey; and for the Township of Warren in the Tax Office until she retired. She was an excellent gardener and long-time member of the Somerset Hills Garden Club. Cecilia found strength in her faith and was a long-time parishioner of Our Lady of the Mount Roman Catholic Church, Mount Bethel, New Jersey. She is survived by her husband of 71 years Joseph Gregg Monahan, her son Brian M. Monahan, Esquire of Williams Township, PA, and daughter-in-law Sonja Carlson of Williams Township, PA. Cecilia was especially proud of the character of her grandchildren. She expressed unconditional love for them and lived for their every accomplishment. Grandchildren that survive her are Colin P. Monahan, Esquire and his wife Lindley [Bley] Monahan of Quakertown, PA; Sean Monahan of Omaha, NE; Brendan Monahan of Williams Township, PA; and Shannon Monahan of Williams Township, PA. Her sister Lorraine [Gruszka] Ostroski is the only survivor of the Gruszka brothers and sisters known as the "Gruszka Nine". Calling hours will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2015, from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home, 101 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, followed by a funeral service at the Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum, 145 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge, NJ.