Mary Lorena Donnelly

Tinton Falls - Mary Lorena Donnelly, 88, of Tinton Falls, NJ, passed away at home on July 19, 2018. She was born to the late Mary and William Schroeder of Scranton, PA, on November 24, 1929. Lorena graduated from Barringer High School (Newark, NJ) in 1947. She was top of her class and turned down a scholarship to McGill University to help her family financially. Instead, she went to work at Otis Elevator Company in Harrison, NJ where she met her "True Love", Jim Donnelly. As her mother would say, "God works in strange and mysterious ways."

Mary L. was an original in every way - funny, opinionated, passionate, direct. You always knew where you stood with her. An advocate for the underdog, she challenged everyone she met to be better, do better.

Lorena and Jim lived the American dream, sent their children to university, and supported their extended families in innumerable ways. A more dynamic duo there was not. Twenty years her senior, Lorena never left Jim's side throughout his waning years. When he passed away, she had her headstone engraved at the same time minus the end date. It read, "Together at last." And now they are.

Lorena was predeceased by her loving husband, Jim, cherished son, John, and siblings, Don and Kevin. She is survived by her sons, William (Susan), and James (David), her rock, caretaker and best friend, and daughter, Debbie. She was the proud grandmother of five grandchildren, Jennifer, John, Justin, Dylan, and Ciara, and a devoted sister to her brother, Paul, and sister, Linda (Elwood) and their children and grandchildren, all of whom delighted her.

A celebration of life service will be held at St. James Church, Red Bank on Saturday, July 28th at 11:00 A.M. followed by interment at Fairview Cemetery, Middletown, NJ