Patti Friel (nee Bush), of Kinnelon, NJ, passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026 at Chilton Hospital in Pompton Plains with her loving family at her bedside.

Born in Glen Ridge in January 1947, she was raised in Bloomfield and graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1965. Patti graduated from Newark State College in 1969 with a degree in Elementary Education. While there, she was a member of Beta Delta Chi and elected president her senior year. Many of Patti’s sorority sisters became livelong friends. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Student Personnel Services from Kean University in 1972. Patti began her teaching career in Belleville in 1970 at School #3, teaching 6th grade.

She met her husband Bill in Belmar where both were spending the summer. They married in 1970 and spent 55 years together. They lived in Belleville before purchasing their first home in Florham Park, where Patti and Bill raised their family. They spent 25 wonderful years in Florham Park where their neighbors became lifelong friends. Bill and Patti eventually moved to Kinnelon where they have resided for the past 25 years.

After taking several years off from teaching to raise their two children, Patti returned to education as a guidance counselor at Central Middle School in Parsippany, where she served for 20 years, retiring in 2008. Some of her former students would visit her office for caring conversation or just to say hello. She had a welcoming and caring energy about her.

Early in the marriage Patti and Bill took a trip to Europe where they visited England, France, Italy and Switzerland. They eventually took a long-awaited trip to Ireland to visit their son who was spending a college semester there. Most summers were spent on Long Beach Island along with the occasional getaway to Breakers in Spring Lake.

Patti enjoyed reading, especially Stephen King and John Grisham novels. She also enjoyed baking and was especially known for her cheesecakes and Irish soda bread. One of Patti’s favorite things was decorating the house for holidays and change of seasons. Patti loved to entertain guests, be it a St. Patrick’s Day party, 4th of July barbeque, or just having friends over on the deck.

While living in Florham Park, Patti was also a member of a local softball league, where she was affectionately nicknamed “Goose” by her Pink Panthers teammates, reflecting her ability as relief pitcher to come in and pitch in tight situations to get the final out (most of the time). The Pink Panthers overall record was overshadowed by all the fun Patti and her teammates had.

Patti is survived by her husband Bill, son Bill and daughter Jamie, son-in-law Anthony, and her grandchildren Leah, Connor and Mae.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 16th from 3:00 – 7:00pm at Codey & Mackey Funeral Home in Boonton. A prayer service will be at the funeral home on Friday, April 17th at 10:00am, followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.

Arrangements were made through Codey & Mackey Funeral Home. To share condolences or memories with the family, please visit CodeyMackeyFH.com.