Natalie E Lawless

Natalie Elaine Lawless, age 86, of the Holiday City section of Berkeley Township lost her valiant battle with acute myeloid leukemia on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at RWJ Barnabas Hospital, New Brunswick, New Jersey where she received the highest quality and most compassionate care. Natalie was born in Bayonne, New Jersey to the late Edward and Mary Gesek (nee Dorio). She was educated in Bayonne, graduating from Bayonne High School in 1957. Thereafter, she graduated from the Bayonne Hospital School of Nursing as an R.N. in 1960. She was extremely proud of her 41 year nursing career. She spent the last 14 years of her nursing career as a Director of Nursing for two long-term care facilities in Barnegat, New Jersey but continued to provide bedside care when and where needed. We are most proud of her legacy of caring, including providing support for and care of her beloved husband and many neighbors in retirement.

Natalie was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Richard, in 2017. She is survived by her three children, Susan Lawless, and her spouse, Kassie (Katherine) Hilgert, of Bethlehem, Pa., Richard Lawless, and his spouse, Ron Nalipinski, of Toms River, NJ, and Christopher Lawless, and his wife Nina Vitale Lawless, of Stafford Township, NJ and their son, “CJ”, Christopher Jacob Lawless, her only grandchild whom she cherished immensely. She is also survived by her brothers, John Gesek and Edward Gesek and their spouses, and her sister Joan Nuzzi and her husband and sister-in-law, Nancy Lawless of Brunswick, GA and Bob and Pat Lawless, of Bloomfield, NJ, and Lisa Vitale, with whom she shared “grandma” duties, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. She also leaves behind her two fur babies, cats Frank and Bebe.

Natalie was an avid reader, lover of history, a determined puzzler, and enjoyed a kitschy horror movie as well as a deep psychological thriller, flowers and gardening. A member of the Holiday City South community for the past 22 years, she loved sitting outside in good weather, listening to the birds, kibitzing with her neighbors and passersby. She also loved arguing politics with anyone who had the stamina and fortitude to engage her on that front.

Visiting hours will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026, at the Horizon Funeral Home, 1329 Route 37 West, Toms River, New Jersey 08755, (732) 276-1740. Natalie will be interred at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Provinceline Road, North Hanover, New Jersey, (609) 758-7250. A service will be held at the Horizon Chapel at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. The military service does not allow graveside service for interment.