Bernadette Cavanaugh Quinn

Bernadette Cavanaugh Quinn, 84, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2024, in Warren Twp. after an extended battle with dementia. Born in Elizabeth, she had a happy childhood in Roselle as the youngest of the five Cavanaugh girls. She raised her family and lived for many years in Fanwood, before moving to Fort Walton Beach, FL to be close to her daughter, and then spending her final years back in New Jersey.
Bernadette graduated from Holy Trinity High School in Westfield and went on to receive her diploma in nursing from the St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as a registered nurse at Overlook Hospital for over 35 years before retiring.
She will be remembered for her fun (sometimes mischievous), energetic, free spirit; as well as her love of family, and friends who became family. Bernadette took so much pride in her children and grandchildren. She loved spending time cheering her family on at athletic events, taking "nature walks", making crafts and playing games. She enjoyed spending time with friends and would definitely like to be remembered for medaling in the 2019 Lucky Leprechaun 5K.
She was predeceased by her parents, James and Elizabeth Cavanaugh, three of her sisters, Sr. Jane Cavanaugh SC, Mary Rita Foley, and Jean Ann Canavan, and her former husband, Jack Quinn. She is survived by her children, Brian Quinn (Lisa), Brendan Quinn (Tina), and Kelly Light (Ed), as well as her sister, Margaret Regan, nine grandchildren, Conor (Rebecca), Catriona (Joe), Josh, Kilian, Aidan, Aislinn, James, Jackson, and Kate; and great-granddaughter Lenox.
Visitation will be at Memorial Funeral Home, 155 South Ave., Fanwood, on Friday, May 31st from 4 PM to 7 PM. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Bartholomew the Apostle RC Church, Westfield Ave., Scotch Plains, on Saturday, June 1st, at 11 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.