Obituary of Ann D Osterhoudt

BOONTON--Ann Osterhoudt, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died at Merry Heart of Boonton Township surrounded by her family on Monday, October 15, 2012. She was 108 years old. Ann was born in Boonton on September 28, 1904 and lived there and in Boonton Township her entire life. Born to Czech and Polish immigrants, she was the oldest of thirteen children, and the last of her siblings to die. Ann's life was defined by hard work, service to others and good health. She got her first job at the age of 10, ironing for the Dawson family of The Dawson Lumber Yard in Boonton. She also sold catfish that her brother caught in the Rockaway River, for a quarter, and water-lilies, which she picked, for a nickel. In the 1930s and 1940s, Ann worked at van Raalte, Inc, making silk stockings and at E.F. Drew, where she made margarine. Perhaps the work that Ann is best known for is her selfless care giving to many people over the course of her life - her sister, her sister-in-law, neighbors and many others. Ann said her secret to a long life was her faith in God, daily prayer, always helping others, tending to her beloved rose garden at her home on Union Street and a perpetually positive outlook. In 1940, Ann married William (Bill) Osterhoudt of Butler. After honeymooning in Niagara Falls, Ann and Bill settled on Union Street in Boonton, where she lived until 1990. Bill died in 1972. Ann is survived by her daughters Onnolee Allieri of Boonton Township, Donna Bodino of Grandy, NC, her son-in-laws Carl Allieri and Jim Bodino, and nine grandchildren; David Allieri of Brooklyn, NY, Paul Allieri of Boonton Township, Frank Bodino of Naples, FL, Susan Allieri of Boonton Township, Mick Bodino of Cary, NC, Lisa Bodino of Hackettstown, NJ, Allison Hayden of Wayne, PA, Gina Bodino of Danville, CA and Chris Allieri of New York, NY. Ann is also the beloved great-grandmother of Nick, Jacqueline, Miranda, Donovan, Alex, Jimmy, Amber, Stephanie, Emily, Carly, Dylan, Joey, Anna, Abby and Mikey. Visitation will be held at Mackey Funeral Home ( www.mackeyfh.com), 107 Essex Ave., Boonton on Thursday, October 18th from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 19th at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel R.C. Church in Boonton. Interment will follow at Mount Evergreen Cemetery on Kinnelon Road in Kinnelon. Contributions in Ann's memory may be made to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 910 Birch St., Boonton, NJ 07005. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.