The Honorable June Strelecki

The Honorable June Strelecki

AGE: 84 • Wall Township

The Honorable June Strelecki, 84, of Wall Township, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, March 9, 2013. Born in Newark, June resided in Irvington before moving to Wall Township over 30 years ago. June was a graduate of Irvington High School and Drew University; she was also one of the first women to be accepted to, and graduate from, Harvard Law School. During her long and distinguished legal career, June had many accomplishments including working as the first woman deputy attorney general in the State of New Jersey, and as an assistant prosecutor for Essex County, where she was the first woman in the state to prosecute a murder. As a prosecutor, June also helped found the Office of Public Defender for the State of New Jersey. June's work in the prosecutor's office was followed by her 1964 appointment as the state's Motor Vehicle Director, a position she held until 1970, making her the first woman Motor Vehicle Director in the country.

June then enjoyed many years as an attorney in a neighborhood law practice until she was appointed as a Superior Court Judge in 1974. Although she handled various types of cases, she especially enjoyed the years spent working with the children who came through her courtroom. For example, when it was time for the children to meet "the judge", June allowed each child to choose and keep a stuffed animal from the vast collection that she kept for just this purpose. June continued to serve as a judge until she retired from the bench in 2008, and began work as an agent for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, where she continued to work until her passing.

June loved and was dearly loved by her family including her parents, Frank and Louise (Kowalski) Strelecki; her twin brother, A. Richard Strelecki and his wife, Evelyn; and her brother, Raymond F. Strelecki, all who predeceased her. She is survived by her loving family including her niece, Lynn Goedecke, Lynn's husband John, and their children, Johnny and Adam; her nephew, Raymond Strelecki, his wife Ronda, and their children, Matthew and Kyle; her nephew, Richard Strelecki and his wife, Marie; her nephew, Mark Strelecki; and many cherished cousins, all of whom have fond memories of special times together including trips to Disney World, birthday and holiday celebrations, especially Christmas. June is also survived by her foster nephew, Luis Rodriguez, his wife, Hope, and her children, Diana and Stephanie.

Visiting will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 13 at the O'Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy. 35 at New Bedford Road, Wall. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 14 at St. Catharine's Church, Spring Lake. Burial will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity dedicated to helping children. For more information or to send condolences, please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com.