Obituary of Elizabeth Merola

Elizabeth “Betty” R. Merola, 88, of Hope Mills, N.C. , formerly of Freehold, died peacefully at home on Friday, March 27, 2009. Born in Holy Oake, Massachusetts, she moved to Freehold as a child and resided there most of her life. She was married on February 25, 1940 to Michael J. Merola and had three children. She was one of five children. She retired in 1983 from McGraw Hill Company where she was a file clerk. She was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4374 Auxiliary, and a communicant of St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church, both of Freehold. She was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Michael, in 1998; her oldest son, James Merola, Hamilton Township in 2007 and his wife, Judith Merola in 1991; her brothers Dick Spitzner, Jamesburg in 1984 and Herbert Spitzner, Freehold in 1991, and sisters Ann Azulay, Cocoa Beach, Florida in 2007 and Dot Roosa, Waterford, Michigan in 2009. Betty is survived by her daughter, Patti Ekdahl and her husband Tim, Hope Mills, N.C., a son, Michael Merola Jr. and his wife, Diane, Freehold; a sister, Martha “Scottie” Vanaman, Fayetteville, N.C.; seven grandchildren, Michelle Ekdahl, Hope Mills, N.C., Michael Wilson and his wife Tracy, Manalapan Township, Ann Marie Merola and Alane, both Hamilton Township, Jimmy Merola, Jr. and his wife Shelly, Hopewell, and Connie Merola and Andrew Merola, both of Freehold; three great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. The viewing will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Friday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold.