Mary VanDerveer

Mary VanDerveer passed away on June 22, 2025, at her longtime residence in Edison, NJ. She was 96 years old.
Mary was born on March 21, 1929, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to the late Nicholas and Mary (Messina) Furnari. Mary attended the local New Brunswick school system and graduated from New Brunswick High School in 1947. It was during this time that she first met her loving husband of over sixty-five years, Raymond. After high school, Mary began her working career as a seamstress for the Bonds Company in New Brunswick, NJ.
After Ray returned from his service in the Army during WWII Mary and Ray married, purchased their lifetime home in Edison, NJ and started their family, which grew to include their three loving children, Raymond, Donna and Scott. Mary dedicated herself to being a full-time mom and homemaker until her children had grown, after which she decided to start her second career. She attended night-school to hone her business skills and ultimately secured a position as Payroll Supervisor at Roosevelt Hospital in Edison. A role she was very proud of and from which she retired in 1997.
Mary lived a life centered around faith, family and friends. She was a longtime member of St. Matthew's Parish in Edison. She was very active in her church community and acted as the head of the St. Matthew's Rosary Society for many years. She also enjoyed spending many summers with her family at their summer home in Wildwood, NJ.
Mary had many lifelong friends and founded "Club 47", made up of several good friends from New Brunswick High School. Mary and her Club 47 friends had many wonderful adventures together and stayed close throughout their entire lifetime. Mary also enjoyed several hobbies including sewing, gardening, and cooking delicious Italian meals for her family and friends. Mary took great pride in being a mother to her children and caretaker for all those she loved.
Mary VanDerveer is predeceased by her loving husband, Raymond, parents Nicholas and Mary (Messina) Furnari, her brother Phillip Furnari and sister Nikki Bonanne. Mary is survived by her three children, Raymond VanDerveer and wife Sherri; Donna Zamonis and husband Tony; Scott VanDerveer and wife Lisa. Mary is also survived by her nine grandchildren, Kelly, Samantha, Jake, Nicholas, Kimberly, Heather, Skylyr, River and Searra. Mary also leaves behind fifteen loving great grandchildren.
A formal visitation will be held on Friday June 27th, 2025, at the Gleason Funeral Home of North Brunswick, 555 Georges Road North Brunswick NJ, from 4pm-8pm. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday June 28th at the Gleason Funeral Home of North Brunswick at 10am. Entombment and committal services to follow at the Holy Cross Mausoleum in Jamesburg.