Eileen Secora, age 81 years, died peacefully on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ.

Born on November 17, 1940 in Passaic, NJ, Eileen was the daughter of the late Louis Salerno and Caroline Makl Vroom. Having lived for more than thirty-five years in Clifton, NJ, she had resided in Flemington, NJ, since 2008, when she moved into a Mother/daughter home with her daughter, Denise and family.

Raised in Passaic, she was a 1958 graduate of Passaic High School. Like many of her generation, Eileen would marry soon after high school and start a family. Meeting a young Mr. Stephen Secora was monumental for them both, as their love was instant and true.

Their union would bring them three children, Stephen, Denise, and Linda, with only a five year difference from the youngest to the oldest. An eternal optimist, Eileen would instill a sense of hope into her children that they can trace back to their earliest memories. Each remember their mother as grounded and compassionate, and who was always encouraging them to follow their dreams.

Sadly, the young family’s world would take a drastic turn in 1976 when Stephen passed away after battling a rare cardiac issue. Young Eileen was now a single mother with a fifteen year old son and two daughters, aged fourteen and ten years old.

In true Eileen form, she leaned upon her strong catholic faith to help her navigate the new reality that was thrust upon her and her children. Instead of retreating, Eileen forged ahead, determined to ensure her family did not lose out because they now were without a father. Having had a job as a bookkeeper when her children were school age, she found she greatly enjoyed the work.

Her children all fondly recall that Eileen, even while working full time, was there for every school program, boy scout event, and sports league, even coaching her daughter’s softball and bowling teams and serving as Cub scout leader and PTO president!  It has been said that Eileen gave more love as a single parent than any two parents could give together. She truly believed in family.

Surviving polio as a young child, determination and drive were two traits that were also omnipresent in Eileen’s world. While putting her three children through college, Eileen decided that she too would go back to school and though it took eight years of night classes, she would earn her BA in accounting from Montclair State University in the late 1980’s. She would then continue on to a long and fruitful career as a cost accountant for GlaxoSmithKline, Clifton, NJ, where she was well-regarded by her colleagues for both her knowledge and dedication to her craft.  After she retired in 2002, Eileen enjoyed working with children by becoming a substitute teacher for elementary school aged students.

With a faith that could move mountains, prayers were part of Eileen’s daily activities and she lived her life continually putting her heart into the Lord’s hands and endeavoring to live her life to do His will. She was a longtime, faithful communicant of St. Magdalen Church, Flemington, NJ.

Having many hobbies, reading was something Eileen enjoyed daily, usually reading several books at the same time. She loved all kinds of books, most especially mysteries and many were amazed to see how committed she was to read the over 800-page ‘Hamilton’ biography.

She was known as a ‘wiz’ playing ‘words with friends’ and was always watching Jeopardy, as she loved to keep her mind sharp and fresh. She was very tech savvy. From texting (with lots of emojis!) to using Venmo, Eileen believed in keeping up with the times.

She was a sports enthusiast and would watch anything from golf to tennis and football to baseball. Eileen loved attending Broadway shows and for many years was a season ticket holder at Paper Mill Playhouse.  She loved supporting the arts however she was able.

Becoming a ‘Nana’ was a true turning point in her world as she then rededicated her life to her grandchildren. One would never be able to refer to Eileen as a sideline grandparent; she was always right there front and center, playing with her grandchildren and being as involved as possible with their upbringing. As she did with her children, she was always present for her grandchildren, supporting them at sporting events, plays, band and other activities.  She always had sage advice and a solid ear available to listen. She taught her grandchildren patience along with resilience, and simply had a knack for always knowing just what to say in any situation. She also taught her “girls” how to bake cookies during her favorite holiday, Christmas!

Eileen’s story is one that begins with hardship and tragedy-from battling polio to the untimely death of her husband-but, like the loving Lord she turned her life over to, concludes with triumph. She placed her trust and hope in the Lord and believed that if she simply lived her life with compassion for all peoples, and with a heart for putting good thoughts into actions, that she would fulfill her duty.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 states, 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. Eileen, you have finished your race and kept the faith, all while inspiring countless others to live their lives to the fullest. You have more than fulfilled your duty and will inspire all of us to carry the torch of hope. Rest now, in the place that you truly deserve, and have the cookies ready and the tree beautifully decorated for the day when we are all reunited again.

In addition to her parents and husband, Eileen was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Julian Groeller and step-brother Louis Salerno, Jr.

Surviving are her children and their spouses whom Eileen loved as her own, Stephen and Christine Secora, Denise and Richard Sawicki, and Linda and Jim Davidson; her grandchildren, Connor Secora, Raymond Sawicki, Samantha Secora, and Stephanie Sawicki; her sister and best friend, Theresa Groeller; her niece and nephews, Caroline, Matthew, and Thomas and his wife, Christa; several extended family members; and many dear friends.

Eileen will lie in repose on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 from 5:00 -7:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. Vigil services followed by reflections from family and friends will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and to which all are welcome.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. Nicholas Gengaro will take place on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ. Everyone is kindly asked to meet directly at the church on Wednesday morning beginning at 9:45 a.m. Wright & Ford Life Celebration Care Team Family Ambassadors will direct you upon arrival.

Realizing that some may be unable to attend due to the pandemic, the vigil service and family reflections on Tuesday evening, and the Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday morning, will be live-streamed, with the stream being active starting at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday and 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday. To watch, please click HERE and kindly ensure you do not have a pop-up blocker enabled (if you are having issues with clicking above, please follow this link: https://vimeo.com/event/2010276). Kindly note that the same link will be used for both events. 

Following mass, Eileen will be laid to rest in the family plot at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 224 Westminster Place, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663. All are welcome to join the family at the cemetery.

You are encouraged to visit Eileen’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.

Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, via mail to 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or online by clicking HERE.

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