Obituary of Ann M. Staudt

Ann Staudt, a life-long New Jersey resident, lost her 10-month battle with cancer on Tuesday, November 13, 2012. Ann died peacefully at her home in Readington Township with her husband by her side. Ann was born on June 6, 1940 in Harrisburg, PA. She attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY where she studied Interior Design. It was there that she met her future husband, Paul Staudt Jr. They married on June 30, 1962 and settled in Washington Township, Bergen County. She, Paul and their children later moved to Readington Township where she lived for the last 34 years. Ann was a loving, generous, and selfless person who quietly gave so much of her time to her community, her church, and dozens of charitable organizations during her lifetime. Ann devoted much of her time and energy to organizations dedicated to helping couples, families, and children, including: Hunterdon County Chapter of Compassionate Friends, a support group for parents who suffered the loss of a child where she was the Founding Member; Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church where she was a Eucharistic Minister, Hospital Ministry volunteer, and CCD Instructor; She was a Team leader for Pre-Cana, Marriage Encounter and The Family Weekend Experience which she also helped to develop. She was also a volunteer for both Bergen and Hunterdon County Meals on Wheels. Perhaps most telling about Ann's selflessness and her love for children is how she opened her heart and her home to dozens of newborn children over a span of 25 years as a volunteer for the Catholic Charities Pre-Adoptive Infant program. Ann was a full-time homemaker and the mother of four children. After the children were grown and moved out she worked part-time, off-and-on, at a variety of jobs including Site Manager at the Hunterdon County Nutrition Program; Home Health Aide, and Activities Director at the Hunterdon Care Center. Ann enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies and interests that included painting, baking, calligraphy, origami, knitting, piano, ceramics, dancing, and gardening. Over the last ten years she and Paul spent much of their time traveling to points around the world including Egypt, Jordan, Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Greece, the South Pacific, Australia, and many winter vacations on the island of St. John in the Caribbean. Ann is survived by her husband of 50 years, Paul Jr.; her children, Kathy Johnson (Jeff) of Hope Valley, RI, Paul Matthew Staudt (Michelle) of Morristown, NJ, and Jill Snook (Dean) of Alexandria Township, NJ; and her seven grandchildren. She was predeceased by her eldest daughter, Kristine Staudt, in 1979. A funeral liturgy will be celebrated on Saturday, November 17th at 9:30 am at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Whitehouse Station. Friends may visit with the family on Friday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Kearns Funeral Home, 103 Old Hwy. 28, Whitehouse. Burial will be in St. Magdalen's Cemetery, Flemington. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the charity of your choice.