Lillian Ash

Lillian Ash, 97, of Spotswood, passed away peacefully, on Friday, January 2, 2026 at HMH Old Bridge Medical Center, Old Bridge.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Lillian also lived in Old Bridge, East Brunswick and Union Beach before settling in the Clearwater Village Community of Spotswood in 2001. For twenty years, Lillian was a bus driver, first with Rapheal Bus Company of East Brunswick, where she was the first woman who operated a school bus, and then with Academy Bus Lines of Middletown, where she operated a commuter bus on a scheduled New York City route to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Lillian was an avid fan of country music and recorded a CD of her own songs. During her many trips to Branson, Missouri, Lillian and her husband, Evan, met many of country music's biggest stars. She was a past president of the Spotswood Seniors and she enjoyed setting up bus trips to Atlantic City, dinner and theater trips and holiday parties.

Predeceased by her sons, Edward J. and Richard Hansen, her sisters, Kathleen Tortu, Margaret Stokes and, Edna Cafiero; her brothers, Albert, Phillip, Thomas and Edward Lowerre and, her great-grandson, Charles Puschel, IV, she is survived by her husband of 45 years, Evan Ash; her daughters, Veronica Kozloff and her husband, Paul and Mary Puschel and her husband, Fred Scofield; her step-children, Debbie Giganti, Eva Marie Tramontana and her husband, Vinny, Evan J. Ash, Jr. and Reka Ash; her grandchildren, Keith McGregor and his wife, Joy, Margaret McGregor and her significant other, Barry Woodbeck, Charles Puschel and his significant other, Kristi Vientos, James Puschel and his significant other, Becca Zanchuk; Step-grandchildren, Andrea Frankshun and her husband, Bryan and Anthony Giganti, and; great-grandchildren, Colton McGregor and Kira Vientos.

A private cremation was entrusted to Spotswood Funeral Home, Spotswood.

Donations honoring Lillian's memory may be made to: John J Carney VFW Post 4589, 33 Daniel Rd., Spotswood, NJ 08884.