June Catherine Bruen, 94, of Leisure Village West section of Manchester Township, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, July 5, 2024, with her loving caregivers by her side.

June was born in Newark and lived there until 1967 when the family moved to Lyndhurst and stayed there for 31 years. Upon retirement, her new home has been in Manchester for the past 26 years.

June lived next door to her future husband when she was 17 and he was 14. They began dating before he joined the army and married soon after his return in 1953. They had just celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary before his passing in 2022.

She completed High School and Arts School and was a secretary for the Bureau of Municipal Research in Newark then was a longtime employee of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of NJ in Newark where she began her career as a secretary and retired as a manager.

She enjoyed painting and drawing, writing poetry, and watching television, especially old movies, The World News with David Muir, The View, and the Kelly Clarkson Show. She loved listening to music, especially Johnny Mathis, Barbara Streisand, Diana Krall, and The Bee Gees. She was a nature lover and enjoyed watching wildlife, particularly hummingbirds from her porch and enjoyed spending time with her fur grand-babies, especially Phantom. Above all, her favorite pastime was being with her family and friends.

She always cherished the good times she spent as a child visiting relatives in the country and at the Jersey Shore. And through the years many more happy memories were made with family and friends at the Jersey Shore (favorite place Island Heights), especially with dear friends Elaine and Myer Nerod, and any time spent with her best friend "Rosie Posie" was a treasured time.

Predeceased by her husband Warren (Buddy) Bruen, her parents, Frank and Barbara (Getter) Gottas, her brother Frank Gottas, and her grandson Christopher Butler; she is survived by her caring best friend, Rose Delagram; and her loving family; Her niece Joyce Matthews; her daughters, Charlotte Reid and her husband Russ and Catherine Ochse and her husband Scott; her grandchildren (who were her pride and joy and light of her life) Kimberly Cronce and her husband Jason, Michael Ochse and his wife Kerri, and Thomas Ochse and his wife Stephanie; and her great-granddaughters Haleigh, Madison, Kendall, Morgan, Avianna and one on the way.

She was blessed to have her wonderful in-home caregivers Andrella and Beverly with her this past year until her passing and previous caregivers Ivy and Tsiu who all treated her like their own mom to which the family will be forever grateful.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to The Make-A-Wish Foundation

Visitation will be Wednesday, July 10, 1024, from 12noon to 1 pm at the Manchester Memorial Funeral Home, 28 Schoolhouse Road, Whiting, followed by a funeral service at 1:00 pm and burial at Whiting Memorial Park, Whiting