Amanda E Fuhro, aged 87 years of Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, passed away peacefully surrounded by her devoted husband Victor and her loving family on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, New Jersey.

Amanda was born in Jersey City, New Jersey to the late Frank and Florence (Eldridge) McCrea. She was the 7^thborn of nine siblings, seven brothers and one sister.  She graduated from William L Dickinson High School, Jersey City, New Jersey in 1955. After which she attended Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing in Boston, Massachusetts, graduating in 1959 as a registered nurse. She continued to broaden her horizons by earning a Bachelor of Arts in Health Science from Jersey City State College in 1972. Amanda completed her educational journey with a Master’s in Science in Health Care Administration from Jersey City State College in 1982.

Amanda held many positions in nursing and health care administration throughout her life. She taught Pediatric Nursing at Christ Hospital School of Nursing, Jersey City; she was Administrator of Operations for Sussex County Pediatric Associates; a Field Service Coordinator for New Jersey Department of Human and Health Services; Administrator Medical Group Practice at the University Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Clinical Manager for the Valley Diagnostic Medical and Surgical Clinic, Harlingen Texas. Her final career move led her to become the Director of Human Resources at the University of Texas Brownsville.

Amanda was happily married to Victor for 65 years. Fate brought them together at a Masonic Lodge dance, when her date left the dance with another women and Victor became her knight in shining armor offering to escort her home. The rest was history, and they were married on June 6^th, 1959. Initially residing in Jersey City until 1971 when they decided to move their family, which by then included their two daughters Suzanne and Kathy, out of the city to Hope, New Jersey. During this time Amanda became very involved with St. Lukes Episcopal Church, teaching Sunday school, becoming a lay reader, vestry member and lay eucharistic minister. She also was a member and held various officer positions in the Hope Elementary School Parent Teachers Association. In 1984 the lure of a job opportunity sparked a move to the Rio Grande Valley, Harlingen Texas. It was just another of her bold moves for the parents to leave the nest vs the children, so off they went leaving their daughters behind in New Jersey. She loved Texas, immersed herself in her work, her spiritual life at St. Albans Episcopal Church, her love of the beach at South Padre Island, her friendships, her visits from family and her life with her soul mate Victor. Then along came that cruel disease that robs one of their memories, sense of self and identity; Alzheimer’s and they were forced to return to New Jersey in 2017/2018 so that her daughters could help to take care of their mother.

Amanda was an amazing woman, wife, mother who worked full time, completed her education at night and still succeeded in raising her family with patience and love. She loved to garden, find antiques at farm auctions, camping with her family, she loved the beach and riding the waves with her boogey board. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren’s sporting events and high school plays.

Amanda is survived by her husband of 65 years, Victor Fuhro. Daughters Suzanne Smith (Jim) and Kathy Piparo (Chris). Five grandchildren, Kaitlin Bast (Matt), Allison Smith, Anna Piparo, Natalie Piparo, Christina Piparo. One step grandchild, Tina Groom (George). One great grandchild, Tyler Bast. One step great grandchild, Casey Groom. Her brother, Fred McCrea (Helen). As well as many nieces and nephews.

Amanda was predeceased by her mother Florence McCrea, father Frank McCrea. Seven siblings, Frank McCrea, John McCrea, Jesse McCrea, Joel McCrea, Stephen McCrea, Florence Williams and Warren McCrea

A celebration of Amanda’s life will be held with family and friends on December 14, 2024, at St. Lukes Episcopal Church, 346 High St., Hope, NJ 07844 at 11:00 am.

Cremation  services were under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

You are encouraged to visit Amanda’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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