Eileen Higgins Mc Carthy

February 28, 1925 - March 1, 2014

Eileen Higgins McCarthy, 89, of Tinton Falls passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2014. Eileen was born on February 28, 1925 in Sayre, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Dr. John Mark Higgins, and Eileen O’Donnell Higgins. Eileen graduated from Sayre High School in 1942. She continued on to Seton Hill University, where she received a BS in Food and Nutrition in 1946. Eileen then received a MA from Columbia Medical Center in Institutional Management in 1948. She married the love of her life, John Justin McCarthy of Bloomfield NJ in 1949 in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, NYC. After raising three children, Eileen worked for 20 years with MCOSS, now the VNA of Central Jersey as a Community Health Nutritionist, and director of the WIC Program, providing nutritional education and assistance to babies and children at risk. Eileen was also vitally important in starting up the Meals on Wheels program, delivering healthy meals to homebound families. Volunteering was very important to Eileen as well. She volunteered on the Tinton Falls School Board, Tinton Falls Board of Health, Tinton Falls Library, Hospice volunteer, Eucharistic Minister and Bereavement Committee member of St. Anselm’s Church, Boy Scout, and Girl Scout leader. After Eileen retired from MCOSS, she spent many years helping to care for young children of multiple births. She bottled, bathed, fed, and entertained many a baby for 20 years. Each family was grateful for her tremendous help. Most importantly, Eileen H McCarthy was a loving wife and mother. She never let work get in the way of taking care of her family. She loved entertaining by cooking up delicious meals for anyone that happened to walk in the front door. She loved her extended family as well, and made a point to honor accomplishments of all family members, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Even the neighborhood children were loved by her. Her true passion was taking care of people in whatever way she could. Eileen, Mom, Aunt Eileen, Nana, we will all miss you greatly. Thank you for showing us the way to a meaningful life: loving others, commitment in your life’s activities, and always giving back. We all love you. Eileen was predeceased by her son, Brian S McCarthy and her husband of 63 years, John J McCarthy. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, John D and Kathleen McCarthy; daughter and son-in law, Eileen M, and Chet Wozniak; daughter-in-law, Clara McCarthy Finney; sister, Rita H. Wolf; grandchildren: Anthony McCarthy, Jessica McCarthy Finley, Allison McCarthy, David Wozniak, Brian Wozniak; great grandchildren, Sydney Anne McCarthy and Anthony Brian McCarthy; nieces and nephew, Ann Marie and Rudy Schatz, Terry and Dave Browning, Christine and Mark Quandt, Patty and Neil Sealander, Joseph and Gwen Wolf, Maureen and Don Wright, Sue Clay Fitzgerald, Jill Clay Holloran, Mary Clay. Cousins; Sandy, Clinton, Matthew, Chris, and Mike Plietz, Muriel McQuade and family, Alice, Roger and John Mitchell. Family nurse: John Barker. Visitation will be on Thursday, March 7, 2014 from 4-7 at Bongarzone Funeral Home, 2400 Shafto Rd, Tinton Falls. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, March 8, 2014 at Church of Saint Anselm, 1028 Wayside Rd, Tinton Falls at 10:00 AM, Interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre, East Orange. Flowers will be accepted or donations can be made in Eileen’s memory to one of the following: VNA of Central Jersey WIC Program, 888 Main St. Belford, NJ 07718, Interfaith Neighbors, 810 4th Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712 (Meals on Wheels) or Church of Saint Anselm, 1028 Wayside Rd, Tinton Falls, NJ 07712.