Donald James Chadwick, age 86 years, of Flemington, NJ, died peacefully on Monday, March 27, 2023, at Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ.

Born on July 6, 1936, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Orange, NJ, son of the late Thomas and Helen Maguire Chadwick, Don was raised in Orange and Montclair, NJ, and had lived in Bloomfield, NJ, for more than forty years prior to moving to Flemington in 2017 to be closer to family.

Graduating from Bloomfield High School, Don would begin his working career at Hanes Department Store, Newark, NJ, where he served in several positions as a buyer of goods and merchandise for the large retailer. He would later go on to own and operate Wisteria Cards and Gifts on Broad Street in Bloomfield for more than twenty years. His shop was known by the community to have a wide array of unique and thoughtful items and gifts, and Don and his staff were much loved by his customers.

A true people person, Don was a social butterfly and a phenomenal storyteller. Witty and humorously sarcastic, he was honest to the core and grounded on every level of life.

Baptized on July 10, 1936, at Holy Name of Jesus Church, East Orange, NJ, Don was a devout Catholic and his faith was truly the foundation on which he lived his life. He accepted every person he met for who they were, and never judged a soul.  Additionally, he prayed the Rosary daily and lived Gospel values.

Never having children of his own, and with his brother passing at a young age and leaving a large family, “Uncle Don” became more than an uncle and truly was a father, grandfather, great grandfather, great great grandfather, and great great-great grandfather to his numerous nieces and nephews and their children, each of whom he loved dearly. Being vocal with his thoughts, each member of the family knew that Don was proud of them as he was always there with a word of encouragement and sage advice about living life and each day to its fullest.

Dressed to the nines daily as the adage goes, Don enjoyed the finer things in life and worked hard to achieve them. He loved a good glass of Pinot Grigio by the beach at the Jersey Shore, and spending time with family and friends throwing parties at his second home in Woodstock, NY. A voracious reader, he collected Hummels, loved dogs, and enjoyed eating out; if you were with Uncle Don, you would always be eating the best food in town!

Though his passing will leave a void in the hearts of all who were touched by his genuine love, Don would want all reading this to take heart and stock in the words from 2 Timothy 4:7-8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Joseph Chadwick; his sister, Ethel Margaret Matthews; his nephews and nieces, Thomas, Diane, John, and Kathy; his nephew-in-law, Gary Milbert; and his best friend for over forty years, John T. Hvasta, Jr.

Surviving are his nieces, Joan Milbert, Barbara and her husband, Thomas Farrell, and Christine and her husband, Steven Cook; his nephew, David Kelly; his great nieces and nephews, Laura and her husband, John Almerino, Lisa and her husband, John Roesler, Thomas Joseph (T.J.) and his wife, Elizabeth Farrell, Diane Chadwick, Danielle Chadwick, Luca Auriemma, James and his wife, Deanna Auriemma, Jade Lone, Steven Lone, Matthew Kelly, Tommy and his wife, Missy Kelly, and Denise Kelly; his great-great nieces and nephews, Stephanie, Heather, Jennifer and her husband, Andrew, Johnny, Kylie, Charlotte, Bailey, Colton, Dylan, Gianna, Leah, T.J., Bella, and Will; his great great-great niece and nephew, Ella and Ryan; several extended family members; and many dear friends.

Don will lie in repose on Sunday, April 2, 2023, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. A Vigil Service followed by reflections from family and friends will begin at 3:30 p.m., and to which all are welcome. If you are unable to attend on Sunday but would like something read on your behalf, please click HERE to send an email to the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. Matthew Marinelli will take place on Monday, April 3, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ. Everyone is kindly asked to arrive at the church on Monday morning at 10:15 a.m., and to follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival.

Entombment at Glendale Cemetery Mausoleum, Bloomfield, NJ, will take place privately.

You are encouraged to visit Don’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 his life.

Memorial contributions in his honor and memory may be made to the Hunterdon Medical Center Foundation, via mail to 9100 Wescott Drive, Suite 202, Flemington, NJ 08822, or online by clicking HERE.

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

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