Obituary of Mary Theresa Berres
Mary Theresa Berres
Age: 80 * Piscataway
Piscataway, NJ – Mary Theresa (Cushing) Berres, 80, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, August 12, 2023 surrounded by her loving family and friends. Born in Hoboken, NJ to the late Ernest and Jean (Yoccodine) Cushing, Mary grew up in South Orange, NJ and lived her married years in Arlington, VA, Towson, MD and Piscataway, NJ.
She started working as a secretary in Washington, DC. When her two daughters were born, Mary decided to be a stay at home mom, taking care of her family. Once her children were grown, Mary began working at Towne Pharmacy in Dunellen, NJ as a sales associate.
In her younger years, she was very active with her children. Whether it was being a dance mom and leading numerous fundraisers for the dance studio, assisting with competitions and recitals collecting tickets or distributing costumes, Mary was always willing to help. She would be first to volunteer as a class mom and loved to plan parties and activities for the classes.
As years went on, her love for children grew as she had grandchildren. Mary never missed an opportunity to spend time with her grandchildren. She was always there biggest cheerleader at all of their sporting events. Mary also loved to be with her “honorary grandchildren,” of the neighborhood, especially beautiful Rachel and handsome Aryan.
Mary had a firm belief in Christ that was nothing short of inspiring. She would begin and end each day by saying the Rosary. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Church and belonged to their Rosary Altar Society.
Mary had a passion for spending time in the kitchen. No Christmas or Easter would be complete without her Christmas Tree Bread; Red Velvet Cake trimmed with Candy Canes or delicious Bunny Biscuits. Birthday never went unnoticed, and she was known to make chocolate chip cookie pie for her grandchildren, that continued into the college years.
Above all things, family meant the world to Mary. Her love for her husband, children, grandchildren and extended family was evident to all those that knew her. Mary loved to vacation with her family and could always be found down the shore, specifically on Lavallette or Ortley Beach.
A loyal, loving and giving person, Mary will be missed by her family and friends. She leaves behind her husband Joseph of fifty-six years and their children; Lisa Rizzi and her husband Liberato of Clinton, NJ and Linda Kilponen and her husband Todd of Kinnelon. Mary will be missed dearly by her grandchildren; Nicholas and Amanda Rizzi and William Joseph and Anna Lynn Kilponen, siblings; Evelyn Fornale and her husband Thomas of South Orange, Robert Cushing of North Charleston, SC, her godson Matthew Fornale, niece Jennifer Pellecchia and goddaughter Rebecca (Reidinger) Meyer.
Mary was predeceased by her parents; Ernest and Jean (Yoccodine) Cushing, her in-laws; Joseph and Helen Berres and by her aunt and uncle, Charles and Mildred Geoghegan.
Visitation will be held at Piscataway Funeral Home, 18 Stelton Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 on Thursday, August 17, 2023 from 5pm – 7:30pm and on Friday, August 18, 2023 beginning 10:00am. Funeral services will begin 10:30am in the funeral home on Friday, August 18, 2023 followed by an 11:00am funeral mass at St. John the Evangelist RC Church in Dunellen.
Mary will be buried at Resurrection Burial Park in Piscataway.
In lieu of flowers, the family is kindly requesting memorial donations in Mary’s name be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater NJ Chapter or to The American Cancer Society.