Obituary of Elizabeth Diana Puskas

Elizabeth Diana Puskas passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Sunday, July 17th in Manalapan, NJ at the age of 64. She was born to James W. and Dierdre (Twitchell/Galer) Thomson on September 22, 1957, in Utica, New York, and married just shy of 41 years to Frank Puskas (Highland Park, NJ). Beth is predeceased by her father, James W. Thomson, mother-in-law, Margaret Puskas, and nephew, Tom Ratliff. Known by friends and family as Beth or Bethie, she graduated from Ohio University with a dual degree in Early Childhood and Special Education. Beth continued her love for teaching at New Friends School for 30 years where she watched her first students become parents and then enjoyed the honor of teaching their kids. Beth was an avid Rutgers women’s basketball fan, stellar trivia player, and enjoyed exploring new places with her husband Frank, family, and friends. She was beloved by all who had the privilege of meeting her. Beth thoroughly enjoyed making those around her laugh - and not one of those little chuckles, rather the type of laugh that could make you cry and leave your abs hurting for hours after. She was devoted to her friends and family, always making time for those she cared for whether that was her Friday night gals or Sunday family cards at her sister Laura’s. Beth’s contagious positivity, fun-loving energy, and selflessness will be missed deeply. However, the amazing memories that she has brought into countless lives will never fade. She is survived by her husband, Frank Puskas, her mother, Dierdre (Twitchell/Galer) Thomson, her siblings Jeanne Thomson, Laura Burke (Edward), and James Thomson, sisters-in-law, Betty Ann Kurz and Anna Lipoczky (Laszlo), her nieces and nephews, Edward Burke III (James), William Timmerman (Amy), Johanna Timmerman, Daniel Timmerman (Lydia), Helen Zaccaria (Christopher), Richard Burke, Mary Burke, Jeff Ratliff (Shauna), Steve Lipoczky, John Lipoczky, great nephews Kevin Jimenez, Nicholas Timmerman, and Anderson Zaccaria and great niece Claire Ratliff - as well as many loving cousins. A viewing will take place on Thursday, July 21, 2022, from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Higgins Memorial Home located at 20 Center St, Freehold, NJ 07728 and a funeral service will be held on Friday, July 22 at 1:00 pm at Colts Neck Reformed Church (139 County Rd 537, Colts Neck, NJ 07722). In lieu of flowers, please donate to Raising Hope for Others, Inc. (www.raisinghopeforothers.org) in Beth’s honor as the 2022 recipient.