Obituary of Laura A. Benedetto

Long Beach Township – Laura Ann Benedetto, of Long Beach Township, NJ, peacefully passed away on November 9, 2020, in her home after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Laura was born on August 11, 1960, in Old Bridge, NJ, where she lived until graduating from Cedar Ridge High School in 1978. She graduated from Rutgers University in 1982 and married her college sweetheart, Tony, in May of 1983. They resided in Mercer County for most of their married lives, made incredible life-long friends, and raised two wonderful sons, Joseph and Nicholas. After retiring in 2018 from a distinguished 33 year career in finance with Johnson and Johnson, Laura and Tony moved to LBI. Earlier this year, surrounded by family, she celebrated her 60th birthday and their 37th wedding anniversary. Laura was a strong, independent and loving person. She was as smart as she was beautiful and could do anything she put her mind to - including earning her CPA at 23 and graduating from Rider University at the top of her class with her Masters in Accounting when she was 53. Her happy disposition and selfless, positive attitude guided her through life and touched everyone she met. She never complained, even throughout her valiant battle and was an inspiration to all. Laura was an original “Jersey Girl” and loved to read, garden, shop and enjoy a nice red wine. She was an outstanding cook, and loved to “create memories”, especially with her family, who she cherished. Laura made every holiday special by decorating the house and cooking everyone’s favorites. She was a friend to all, mentor to many, loving sister and aunt, devoted daughter, an incredible wife and the best mother. Laura is survived by her loving spouse, Tony; her son Joseph and spouse Amy, of Fanwood, NJ; her son Nicholas and spouse Anna, of Scotch Plains, NJ; her mother, Stasia Palmer of Freehold, NJ; her sister Jennifer and spouse Albert Oleksza, of Little Meadows, PA; sister Debra and spouse Chris Fenton, of Freehold, NJ; her nephews - Joe, Jesse, Kyle, and Michael, and nieces – Becca, Sarah, and Adina, and 5 great nieces as well as many more beloved family members and friends she adored. She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Geczik. A funeral mass will be held at St. Robert Bellarmine in Freehold, NJ on Monday, November 16 at 10 am. Online condolences can be posted at PolhemusCremations.com In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Laura’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org/donate.