James J. O’Leary, Jr.

It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of James J. O’Leary, Jr., age 84, formerly of Fords, NJ, and more recently of Monroe, NJ.  Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving wife and family on February 29, 2024.  Born on July 12, 1939, to Mary and James O’Leary, Sr., of Elizabeth, he was the oldest of four children, twins John O’Leary and Maryann Macquaide, of Brick, both of whom predeceased him, and Kevin O’Leary, and wife, Penny, of Avon-By-The-Sea.

Jim graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University and was a U.S. Air Force Veteran.  He worked for Prudential in Asset Management for 35 years and was a member of the Elks Lodge for 41 years.  He resided in Fords, NJ, for 46 years before moving to Monroe, NJ.

He was predeceased by his first wife, (Helen) June Enz, with whom he has four loving children: James J. O’Leary, III, and significant other, Linda; Karen McKim, and husband, Kevin; Carol Ann O’Leary; and Christine Rotella, and husband, Anthony.

He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Christine (Bradley) O’Leary, and proved fatherhood requires love, not DNA, as he cherished her four children as his own: Lorraine Nardone; Charles Sabin, and wife, Judith; William Sabin, and wife, Kim; John Sabin, and wife, Erica.  Together they all lived like a real-life “Brady Bunch”.

Perhaps Jim’s most treasured role has been that of “Grampy” to his 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.  He will be deeply missed by all who love him, but as A.A. Milne said, “How lucky [are we] to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”.

Visitation hours will be from 4-8 PM on Thursday, March 7th at the Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Avenue, Westfield, NJ 07090 www.higginsandbonner.com

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Friday, March 8th at St. James the Less Catholic Church, 36 Lincoln Avenue, Jamesburg 08831.

The family requests donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation in lieu of flowers: Parkinson’s Foundation: Believe in Better

For those who wish to livestream the mass please use the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/47678/embed