Concetta V. Burghardt
Former Rockaway Township mother of four and school district staff member, 'instilled the love and values for a successful life'
Concetta V. Burghardt, age 94, passed away on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at Paoli Hospital in Willistown, Pa.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, June 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, N.J. Funeral services will begin on Monday at 9 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass at The Church of the Sacred Heart in South Plainfield, N.J. The interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, N.J.
Concetta was predeceased by her husband, John B. Burghardt, who passed away on Sept. 20, 2006; her parents, Gaetano and Pauline Strano; a brother, Anthony W. Strano, and a sister-in-law, Eleanore Strano.
She leaves behind her two sons, Thomas J. Burghardt and his wife, Dawn, of Chester Springs, Pa., and John A. Burghardt of North Carolina; her two daughters, Lynda Yelenovsky of Plainfield, N.J., and Nancy H. Cloeter and her husband, Cameron, of Malvern, Pa. Concetta has seven grandchildren, and six great- grandchildren, all of whom she cherished.
As a young woman, Concetta worked for Prudential Insurance Company in Newark, N.J., until she married and began a family. Once all of her children were in school, she worked in the main office of South 17th St. Elementary School and became president of the PTA.
Concetta moved to Rockaway Township, N.J., in 1965 into a home that was built by her husband. All of her children had a hand in building this home together as a family.
Concetta then worked for the Rockaway Township public schools, as an administrative assistant to the assistant superintendent of schools. She worked there over 25 years. After retiring, she volunteered her time at St. Clare's Hospital in Denville, N.J. Following the death of her beloved husband, Concetta moved to Phoenixville, Pa.
Concetta was an avid mystery and romance novel reader, loved doing crossword puzzles, as well as to knit and crochet. Most important to Concetta was her family. She always put her family first and provided them with the love and values to be successful. Concetta will also be missed by many nieces, nephews and the friends she made along her journey.