Ruth Margaret Neigel, age 75 years, of Hampton, NJ, died peacefully at Hunterdon Care Center on Thursday, January 9, 2025, surrounded by her devoted husband and loving family.

Born in Newark, NJ, daughter of the late Ruth Cooke (Klipphahn) and Thomas Mansfield, Ruth married her husband, William A. Neigel Sr. in March of 1967, and resided in South Plainfield, Forked River and Edison, NJ, before finally settling in Bethlehem Township for the last 24 years.

Ruth worked at Readington Farms in Whitehouse Station, NJ, as a purchasing agent from 1990 until her retirement in 2017, where she was well regarded by her colleagues and customers.

In her early years, Ruth was one of the back-up singers for Frankie Avalon’s famous rock n’ roll group in the 1960’s. Her passion for music carried forward throughout her life, as she always enjoyed singing classic songs that came on the radio to everyone’s delight!

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, she truly cared deeply about her family. Her life was based on them, and she always made taking care of, and spending time with her family her main priority. For that especially, she will always be remembered with love.

Ruth always gave insightful advice whether over recipes she mastered, marriage tips, or navigating new life paths. In her free time, she enjoyed sitting on her back porch, painting and listening to music and watching her butterflies feed on her butterfly bushes in the spring. Her infectious smile and laugh could always be felt when she entered a room.

As anyone reflect’s on Ruth’s life and legacy, it will surely be said that she dedicated her life to loving her family and she never stopped caring for the ones she loved, right up until she closed her eyes for the last time. The lessons she taught will not soon be forgotten and her light will continue to shine bright over all who knew her and felt her genuine love.

Ruth was preceded in death by her mother, Ruth in 2008, her father, Thomas in 1961, her brothers, Harold Cooke in 2015 and Thomas Cooke in 2023, and two nieces, Heather Mansfield in 2008 and Stephanie Cooke in 2022.

Surviving are her loving husband, William A. Neigel Sr; two sons and daughters-in-law, William A. Neigel Jr. and Charline Neigel of Inman, SC and Paul and Nancy Seredy of Lanoka Harbor, NJ; her two brothers, Richard Mansfield of Port St. Lucie, FL and Kenneth Cooke of Simpsonville, SC; her adored grandchildren and their spouses, Mitchell and Kaitlyn Neigel, Juliana and Peter McKeown, Alissa and Joe Barras, Kristen Seredy, and Brittany Seredy; multiple great-grandchildren whom she cherished dearly; several nieces, nephews and extended family; and two great grand-dogs, Bowser and Winston, whom she spoiled beyond measure.

Family and friends will gather to reflect and celebrate on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 2:00-3:00 p.m., in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

A life celebration service will take place at 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home, and to which all are welcome.

Interment will be private.

You are encouraged to visit Ruth’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.

In honor of Ruth, those who wish are encouraged to make contributions in her memory to the Melanoma Research Foundation by clicking HERE, or to St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center by clicking HERE.

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