Jean Rita Butler

Jean Rita Butler

Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, dedicated community member, and friend to many

Jean Rita Butler passed away peacefully on October 18, 2023. She was 96 yrs old. 

Jean was born in Elizabeth on September 15, 1927 to Mary and Thomas McNamara.

Jean had fond and interesting memories of her childhood. After graduating from Battin High School in Elizabeth, she entered the work force for several years until she married Ken Butler, also of Elizabeth. They started their family in Roselle Park but ultimately moved to Coolidge Road in Elizabeth where she remained for fifty years.

Jean was a devoted and loving mother to six children: Maryjean Butler-Nicoli and her husband, Tony of Hillsborough, Kathie Muelrath and her husband, David of Grafton, VT, William Butler and his wife, Yao of Perth Amboy, the late Thomas Butler, the late James Butler and the late Michael Butler. 

As years passed, she became grandmother of ten with yet another baby girl due in February 2024. She also has eight great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly. 

Jean also had a big circle of cousins, nieces, and nephews who remained an important part of her life and were forever at the forefront of her thoughts and prayers.

Jean is also survived by her loving daughters-in-law, Tom’s wife Ingrid and Mike’s wife Stacy.

From the perspectives of many, Jean was viewed as the binding force to a large orbit of people who independently strove to improve their families and surrounding communities. 

In addition to her unflinching dedication to her family responsibilities Jean had a twenty-five-year career working with the Detectives in the Juvenile Branch of the City of Elizabeth Police Dept. 

She loved adventures and liked to travel with her children, who took her to many places, including Florida, California, Rhode Island, Vermont, Ireland and Mexico.

After retiring, and when all of her children had moved from the family home, Jean took up residence in Long Branch with her son Jim. Upon Jim’s sudden and unexpected death, Jean was fortunate enough to relocate to Perth Amboy where Bill had an apartment for her just below his own. As she wished, she remained here until her passing.

 Until the very end of her life Jean maintained her independence and dignity with outsized strength. Despite losing much of her hearing and eyesight, she continued to cook and share the foods cherished by her family and friends. There was always a pot roast and a pie or cookies and of course her award-winning carrot cake. Her favorite thing came to be sharing a meal or a cup of tea and a conversation.

She will be forever missed by everyone fortunate enough to have been the recipients of her genuine and loving care and support. 

Visitation will be on Monday, October 23, 2023 from 4 to 8 PM at Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 10:00 AM at St. Genevieve’s RC Church in Elizabeth. Interment will follow at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia.