Obituary of Alma McKernan

Alma McKernan (nee Balinski) passed away peacefully on October 3, 2013 at Saint Clare's Hospital, Dover surrounded by her four loving children. She was 84 years old. Alma was born to Peter Balinski and Mary Doyle on May 7, 1929 in her treasured downtown Jersey City. When she was 18 years old, she met the love of her life, William, in her childhood neighborhood and they were married in 1947. After having four children together, the family settled in Parsippany where they lived for over 30 years. Alma devoted her entire life to her husband and children, celebrating joyous holidays singing late into the night with the many members of her extended family. She enjoyed many happy memories at their summer home in Monterey Beach, as well as in Florida with her sister and brother, Marge Marchesa and George Balinski, and his wife Maria. In her later years, Alma took great pleasure in her grandchildren and consistently described her very full life as "wonderful, wonderful, wonderful". Alma was predeceased by her devoted husband of 64 years, William (2012). She is survived by her four children: Michele McKernan, William McKernan and his wife Maritza, Diane McKernan and her husband Don Gesicki, and Daniel McKernan and his wife Dina. She is also survived by 9 adoring grandchildren: Maggie Letsche, Devin, Brendan and Kyle McKernan, Regina, Paige and William Gesicki, and Elizabeth and Andrew McKernan. Visitation Monday, October 7, 2013, 4 - 8 p.m. at Tuttle Funeral Home, 272 State Route 10 West, Randolph (www.tuttlefh.com). Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, October 8, 2013, 10:30 a.m. at St. Therese R.C. Church, 151 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ (973-584-8271). Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested in her memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.