Harriet J. Gockel

Harriet Jane Gockel passed away at home surrounded by family on Monday, December 2, 2024.
Mrs. Gockel was born to Stanley Paszynski and Katherine Paszynski (nee Krempa) in Perth Amboy NJ on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1931. She grew up in Hopelawn and Fords, NJ, then settled in Edison, NJ. She was a graduate of Woodbridge High School's Class of 1948. Following graduation, Harriet worked at Prudential Insurance in Newark, NJ and then in the Raritan Arsenal in Edison, NJ.
She was a parishioner of Our Lady of Peace Church in Fords, NJ from her childhood onward. In the late 1940s, she met Thomas F. Gockel of Edison, NJ at an Our Lady of Peace Sodality dance. Harriet and Tom married in 1953 and the couple relocated locally in Edison, NJ where Harriet settled into being a mother and homemaker for the next seventy years. The couple went on to have nine children and the large family would become the center of their universe with Harriet providing continuous love, care, and support to her forever-grateful children. She nurtured and led by example. Kindness, humility, compassion, gratitude and unconditional love were among her greatest gifts.
Harriet was blessed to enjoy the life-long friendships of the Jumping Jills, her high school club that held regular meetings and activities from the 1940s for over six decades. In retirement, Harriet and Tom enjoyed many travels together and with friends, and especially cherished being with their family.
Mrs. Gockel was predeceased (in February 2024) by Thomas Gockel, her loving husband of over seventy years. She was also predeceased by her sister Jean Parker and brothers Stanley Pazinski, Walter Pazinski, Edward Paszinski, and Henry Paszinski, son James Gockel, and granddaughter Jacqueline Gockel. She is survived by her children: Thomas and Marie Gockel, Kathy and Jack Frenchu, David and Lynn Gockel, Daniel and Linda Gockel, Brian Gockel and Robert Lutz, Carolyn Gordon, Susan and Nicholas Dazzo, and Jane and Randy Aldrich; and grandchildren Jaesy, Alex, Jack, Tom, Steven, Nicholas, Scout, Connor, Danny, Delia, Richard, Anita, John, Brendan and Joseph, and great grandson Alpha. She is also survived by her sister Carol Martis and brother-in-law Ralph, sister-in-law Mary Paszinski and many nieces and nephews.
Visitors will be welcomed on Friday, December 13, 2024, from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at the Flynn and Son / Mitruska Funeral Home, 23 Ford Avenue, Fords NJ. Funeral services at the funeral home will be on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 9:00AM followed by a 9:30AM mass of Christian burial at Our Lady of Peace Church in Fords, NJ. Entombment will follow in St. James Mausoleum in Hopelawn, NJ.
If desired, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to Stein Hospice (https://www.wilfcampus.org/foundation/online-donation/) or Our Lady of Peace Church (https://www.olpfords.org/support-us).