Anita Dolores Vara
Grandmother of 13, active in Somerville church organizations, 88
Anita D. Vara, 88, of Bridgewater, N.J., died on Dec. 5, 2018.
Visitation from 3 to 6 p.m., on Sunday, Dec. 9, is at the Cusick Funeral Home, Somerville, N.J. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:30 a.m., on Monday, Dec. 10, at the Immaculate Conception Church, 35 Mountain Ave., Somerville. Interment will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery, Bridgewater, N.J.
Anita was born on Sept. 27, 1930, in Kearny, N.J., to the late Peter and Margaret (Harty) Koerner.
She worked at Prudential in New York City before marrying John S. Vara, her beloved husband of over 60 years. She later worked at Ethicon, Inc. in Bridgewater.
Anita was active in her faith community throughout her life and was a communicant of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Somerville. She served in various church ministries over the years, including the Rosary Altar Society and Parish History Committee. She also served as a CCD catechist, substitute teacher and volunteer at Immaculate Conception School in Somerville, N.J. Additionally, she participated in numerous volunteer efforts throughout the community.
Anita is survived by her three children and their spouses, Mary Beth (Keith) Masur, John (Christine Geisler) Vara, Teresa (Tim) Conklin, and 13 grandchildren, Patrick, Andrew, and Sean Masur, Jessica, Samantha, Marissa, Danielle, and Grace Vara, Claire, James, Meg, Ryan, and Kevin Conklin.
She was predeceased by her husband, John; her sister, Mary (Koerner) Phillips; her brother, Peter (Warren) Koerner, and her mother and father, Margaret and Peter Koerner.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Immaculate Conception Capital Campaign at httpa://www.churchcampaign.net/somerville/.