Eileen N. Cotugno

(Asbury Park Press)

EILEEN N. COTUGNO
AGE: 67 MANCHESTER
Eileen N. Cotugno, 67, of Manchester closed her eyes one last time on Friday, Oct. 22, 2010 at Ocean Medical Center, Brick. She loved her family and friends. She loved to shop. She was an avid collector of turtles. She loved every breath of life. Since she was two years old, breathing itself was sometimes a struggle. Under the care of Dr. M. Murray Peshkin, she was one of the first asthmatics to be treated with cortisone, and she spent several years as a child at Denver's Jewish National Home for Asthmatic Children. Eileen won her struggle for sixty-seven years. She did not go gently into that good night nor did she go with rage. She left us with grace and dignity; she left us with love. She was a well-loved and respected elementary school teacher for 38 years for the Red Bank Regional Board of Education and was awarded Teacher of the Year. She inspired both her daughters to become educators. Born in Newport RI, she resided in Lincroft for 31 years before moving to Manchester 7 years ago. She enjoyed spending time with her fellow Red Hats and Columbiettes in Leisure Knoll.
She was predeceased by her mother, Eileen Mary Pryor, and her father, Harold Vincent Pryor. Surviving are her devoted husband of 41 years, Harry; daughter, Marianne Cotugno and fiancé, Mark Hoffman, of Middletown, OH; daughter, Eileen Candelaria, and husband James of Branchburg; granddaughter, Sophia Eileen Candelaria; sister, Suzanne Hooper and husband William Hooper of Apache Junction, AZ; sister, Judith Calderone and husband Tom Calderone of Cape Haze, FL.
Visitation is Tuesday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at Oliverie Funeral Home, 2925 Ridgeway Rd, Manchester. Funeral liturgy is Wednesday, 10 am at St John's Church, Lakehurst with entombment to follow at St Mary of the Lake Cemetery, Lakewood. In lieu of flowers, please make your donations to the Kimball Treasure Chest 666 Rt# 70 Lakehurst, NJ 08733 or National Jewish Health, P.O. Box 17169, Denver, CO, 80217-0169. To obtain directions or send condolences, please visit our website at www.oliveriefuneralhome.com.