Lillias F. Brescia

BRESCIA, LILLIAS F., - of Manahawkin, passed away peacefully on Friday September 26, 2008. Born July 28, 1930 in New Rochelle, NY to Norman and Florence Kidd, she moved with her family to the Mayetta area of Stafford Township in 1935. She attended the Beach Ave. Elementary School of Manahawkin, and graduated from Tuckerton High School in 1948. She attended Trenton State Teachers College, graduating in 1952 with a Bachelor of Education degree. She married Louis Brescia in 1952, and in 1957 they returned to Stafford Township, becoming an integral part of the Stafford Township community. She returned to Trenton State to earn her Masters degree in Chemistry in 1968. First and foremost, Lillias was a teacher. She taught mathematics at Southern Regional High School the first few years after it's opening. She then taught at Freehold Regional High School, teaching mathematics and computer science, where she earned the Teacher of the Year award in 1985. She retired after 27 years in education to become a researcher at the Rutgers Blueberry-Cranberry research center in Chatsworth. Lillias was a member of the Stafford Township First Aid Squad for 20 years. She initiated the Cadet Corps, which helps bring young volunteers into the squad. Lillias participated in many aspects of the Stafford Township government as a member of the Recreation Commission, the Historical Preservation Commission, the Heritage Commission, the Founders Day Committee, and as the township's historian. Lillias was a charter member of the Stafford Historical Society, which helped to bring attention to the preservation of Stafford's history. She co-authored a book, "Stafford Township - A Pictorial Review", on Stafford Township with her husband, Louis, in 1964. A second book was published in 2001, "Stafford Chronicles", dedicated to Louis Brescia. She was also the designer of the Stafford Township flag that is still in use today. Lillias is survived by her three sons; Charles, Richard, and Steven; their wives; and five grandchildren. She will be forever missed by us all. A memorial service is scheduled for Oct 4, 2008 at 1pm at the Old Manahawkin Baptist Church (across Rt. 9 from the Stafford Library). In lieu of flowers, donations made in her memory to the Stafford Township Historical Society, PO Box 1097, Manahawkin, NJ 08050 would be appreciated.