Casey Lee Nekulak

Casey Lee Anne Rose Nekulak entered the world at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan and spent her first two years in Newport, Jersey City, before her family settled in Marlboro, New Jersey.
From the very beginning, Casey lit up every room she walked into. With an infectious laugh and a warm, magnetic personality, people were naturally drawn to her. She was a vibrant and multi-talented girl-taking piano lessons, dancing at Center Stage Dance and Theatre School, earning her first-degree black belt at ATA Martial Arts, and playing recreational basketball. At Marlboro High School, she proudly served as manager of the varsity basketball team, bringing her signature energy and dedication to everything she did.
Casey went on to attend Drexel University, where she majored in Biology on the pre-med track, receiving her bachelor's degree in 2021. Her college experience took her across the globe to Lecco, Italy, where she studied abroad and spent weekends exploring Milan, Bellagio, and other stunning parts of Italy. Her love of travel and learning extended well beyond the classroom-she had a true thirst for new experiences and cultures.
Always driven by a desire to help others, Casey worked as a camp counselor at Rolling Hills Day Camp and YMCA Camp Mason. She dreamed at various points of becoming a veterinarian or a marine biologist, but after tearing her ACL in high school, she found her calling in physical therapy. That path led her to a leadership role as Front-End Operations Manager at AOSMI, where her compassion and work ethic made a lasting impression on patients and staff alike.
Casey lived her life with curiosity, intention, and heart. She traveled extensively-to the Caribbean, across the U.S., Paris, London, and Greece-always immersing herself in the beauty of different cultures. Her mother, Jennie Lee, instilled in her a deep appreciation for their Chinese heritage, passing down family traditions that Casey cherished and celebrated.
On June 10, 2025, Casey passed away suddenly at her second home in Morganville, NJ, surrounded by those closest to her. She is now reunited with her beloved mother, Jennie, who passed in 2023. Casey is survived by her devoted father, Michael Nekulak; her younger sister, Emma Nekulak; and her loving boyfriend of seven years, William Chiusano.
Though her time with us was heartbreakingly short, the impact Casey made in just 25 years was profound. She had a rare gift-the ability to make people feel truly known and cared for. She showed up, she gave her all, and she loved with every part of her being. She was a force of nature-hilarious, loving, and endlessly compassionate. She celebrated others' successes like they were her own, offered comfort when it was needed most, and left people feeling lighter and more loved just by being in her presence.
She touched so many lives-as a deeply loving daughter, role model big sister, cousin, friend, aunt, coworker, and of course, a devoted dog mom to her and William's beloved pup, Oakley. Every life she crossed paths with was better for knowing her-touched by her warmth, her humor, and her boundless heart.
Casey's life was full of laughter, adventure, purpose, and love. Her memory will continue to inspire all who knew her to live boldly, love deeply, and never take a moment for granted. Her story may have ended too soon, but her legacy will forever live on in the hearts of her family, friends, and everyone whose lives she touched.
We will miss her every single day, but her legacy-of compassion, brilliance, laughter, and love-will live on in all of us. She was one of a kind, and this world is better because she was here. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Casey Lee Nekulak, please visit our Tree Store.