Obituary of Elfriede Anna Kearon

Elfriede Anna Kearon, age 87, of Toms River, NJ, formerly of Spring Valley, NY, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2017 surrounded by her loving family. Elfriede was born in Mainze-Weisenau, Germany to the late Johann and Margaretha Straub. Elfriede was pre-deceased by her husband of 69years, Michael J. Kearon Sr. a WWII Army Veteran, her three sisters Elizabeth, Erika, Anna Marie, a brother Johann Straub Jr. and a grandson Carl Sugrue. She was a loyal and longtime employee of Consolidated Stamp Manufacturing Co. in Spring Valley, NY. Upon retiring in 1998, she moved with her husband Michael to the Cedar Glen Homes Complex in Toms River, NJ. She enjoyed her retirement at Cedar Glen making many friends playing shuffleboard and Bongo. She especially loved bowling and looked forward to Wednesdays when she would meet with her teammates on the Kings and Queens League. She was a good and helpful neighbor to many and loved her walks through the wooded complex of the Glen with her dog Charlie and cherished the many conversations with the residents she met along the way. She will be lovingly missed by all who knew her there. Elfriede had many proud moments in her life, but one of the proudest moments was in 1976 when she took the oath of Citizenship to the United States of America. She was extremely proud and honored to be an American Citizen. Elfriede was a loving wife and caregiver to her husband Michael until his passing in October 2014 and her grieving for him was overwhelming. She missed him every day with all her heart. Elfriede was a loving mother and a best friend to all her children. She was always there for us in good times and bad. She had a special place in her heart for each of us. Our hearts are broken upon the loss of our mother, but slowly we shall heal as we have comfort in knowing that she is once again resting with that Old Irishman who was the love of her life. Elfriede is survived by her three daughters; Elfriede M. Kearon, Theresa & husband Agostino Maggiore, and Patricia A. Stearns; two sons, Michael J. Kearon Jr. and Edward J. Kearon; six grandchildren, Kristi M. Crofoot, Dawn Sugrue, Joseph and wife Linsay Maggiore, Tommaso Maggiore, Michelle Grundig, Kaarina Stearns; and 10 great-grandchildren, Bailey, Josephine, Evan, Aedan, Hunter, Jack, Giulianna, Gianna, Karter and Dylan. She is also survived by loving extended family members, Evelyn Wetz, Elena Shamkovich, Julian Cracolici, Harlan Stearns and many nieces and nephews in America and Germany. Upon her expressed wishes, Elfriede was quietly cremated on February 3, 2017 and her ashes were joined with those of her loving husband Michael and a specially selected date for a private family memorial will be held in the summer of 2017. We feel the following is how our mother wished to be remembered by all who loved and knew her: I’d like the memory of me to be a Happy One. I’d like to leave an Afterglow of Smiles when life is done. I’d like to leave an Echo Whispering Softly down the Path’s I’ve walked, of Happy Times and Laughing Times and Bright and Sunny Days. I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun. Of Happy Memories that I leave when life is done. Our immediate family’s heartfelt thanks to all friends and family who reached out to us with condolences for the loss of our beloved mother. We will miss her and love her always.