Obituary of Patti Sue Rolak

Patti-Sue (Beirne) Rolak of Washington Township peacefully transitioned to her heavenly home on April 30, 2020. Patti-Sue was born on October 8, 1948 in Orange, New Jersey and has been a resident of Washington Township for over thirty years. She is survived by her devoted husband of 47 years John, her daughter Amybeth Kupcha and her husband Jason of Nazareth, PA, her daughter Colleen Tampier and her husband Colby of Bath, PA, and her son John Patrick Rolak and his wife Shannon of Flemington, NJ, and the loves of her life, her six grandchildren: PJ Kupcha, Madison Kupcha, Chloe Tampier, Cassie Tampier, Samantha Rolak, and Kelly Rolak. Her only brother Thomas Beirne resides in Wharton, New Jersey, and her only surviving Aunt, Connie Aroneo who resides in Kenilworth, New Jersey. Patti-Sue graduated from East Orange Catholic High School and then Montclair State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Distribute Education, where she met and fell in love with her husband. She taught Distributive Education in Plainfield High School for seven years and then left teaching for a period to raise her family. Residing in South Amboy for fourteen years, Patti-Sue and her family moved to Washington Township where she was a part time substitute teacher in the Warren Hills Regional School District. Throughout her lifetime Patti-Sue loved God and loved to volunteer and help others. She was the Senior Class Secretary at Montclair University and her and her future husband were members of Sing-Out Montclair, which was an affiliate of Up With People during her junior and senior years. She was a class mother, Girl Scout Leader, Club Scout Leader, a member of the former Washington Dance Club, a thirty-year member of Saint Joseph Church Couples Club, a Trustee of Saint Joseph Church in Washington, a long-time member, and past Vice-President, of the Warren Garden Club, and a volunteer with Warren County Habitat for Humanity for nearly twenty-years, with two separate 8-year terms as a member of the Board of Directors. She believed that her life was blessed and thanked God for every little gift. Patti-Sue was well known in the Washington area due to her constant smile, cute dimples, and friendly disposition. She was never shy and could walk into a room of strangers and walk out with individuals that would become life-long friends. She had a distinctive first name and sometimes her family felt like everyone in Warren County knew Patti-Sue. She was a tireless volunteer that never wanted to be in charge, but would work harder than anyone else to make the event a success. Patti-Sue was a big proponent of family and tradition which instilled lifelong memories that her and her husband John not only started with their children, but continued and made stronger with their grandchildren. Her favorite tradition of going as a family to the tree farm every year for the Christmas trees turned into a day-long event with all 14 family members starting with breakfast, caravanning to the tree farm, visiting together for coffee and snacks and crafts and ending with dinner at a local pizza restaurant. Over the past seven years, she loved to plan extravagant family vacations, always finding the perfect place to fit her entire family under one roof, including cherished trips to Brigantine Beach New Jersey, Walt Disney World, Hershey Park, and last year Dollywood. She has left scores of friends that will truly miss her enthusiasm and commitment to the charities she worked with, and her friends, family, and grandchildren all thank God for the opportunity of being part of her wonderful life. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Warren Country Habitat for Humanity and St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church of Washington, New Jersey. A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Love is Forever. Due to public gathering restrictions, services will be announced at a later date. For those who knew and loved Patti Sue you are encouraged to share a message, memory or story with the family on the Tribute Wall. Your comments are comforting and supporting for those who are grieving in emotionally sad and distressing times. To send an on-line condolence please visit www.warrenhillsmemorialhome.com