Obituary for June B Coates (Benjamin)
June B. Coates, 89, of Lambertville, NJ, died on Friday, October 14, 2022 at Overlook Medical Center.
Born in Elizabeth, NJ and raised in Roselle Park, June was the daughter of Thomas Palmer and Gertrude Florence Benjamin. June married Robert Edward Coates in 1955. She and Bob raised their family in Roselle Park and Belle Mead, NJ. June was a devoted wife and mother.
After raising six children, June, an excellent cook and baker, launched a business specializing in wedding cakes while returning to school part-time. She then earned her degree in English literature from Douglass College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. After graduation, June became a registrar at Rutgers University. Following Bob’s death in 1996, June moved to Lambertville where she was closer to family. A woman of deep faith, June was deeply involved with St. John the Evangelist RC Church in Lambertville and St. Martin of Tours RC Church in New Hope, PA. She was a eucharistic minister, bringing Communion to the homebound. June shared her love of the church through the RCIA program, welcoming and educating newly formed Catholics. She also served in a bereavement ministry, Beginning Experiences, for many years. An avid sports fan, June always rooted for the NY Giants, Mets and all Rutgers teams. At home she treasured the company of her cat, Clancy.
June is survived by her six children and their spouses Carol and James Harding of Lambertville, Robert E. Coates, Jr. of Hatboro, PA, Thomas and Janet Coates of Galax, VA, Michael and Lisa Coates of Hawthorne, NJ, Peter and Kelly Coates of Cranford, NJ and Ellen Ruhlman of Hillsborough, NJ. She was proud of her 17 grandchildren: James (Vaish) Harding Jr, Lisa (Dan) Ballerini, Michael (Megan) Harding, Robert E. “Chip” Coates III, Megan Coates (fiancé Hans Abendroth), Thomas Jr (Ciji) Coates, Matthew (Margaret) Coates; Lauren (Joe) Munson, Patrick Coates, Anne (Dylan) Clark, Emily Coates, Peter Coates, Patrick Coates, Erin Coates and DJ Ruhlman (fiancé Courtney Parks), Robert Ruhlman and Sean Ruhlman and her six great-grandchildren: Benjamin Harding, Julia Ballerini, Jackson Coates, Liam Coates, Oliver Munson and Cameron Clark. June’s sister, Barbara Whitmeyer, resides in Fairfield CT. Her sister-in-law Sister Anne Lucille “Looch” Coates, SSJ, lives in Flourtown, PA. June also had many friends and extended family.
There will be calling hours at the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, 21 York Street, Lambertville, NJ on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 from 3 to 8 pm. Limited street parking is available. Additional parking is available nearby at St. John the Evangelist Church in Lambertville.
The funeral Mass will be offered on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 10:30 am at St. John the Evangelist Church, 44 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530.
Interment will be private.
Donations in June’s memory may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, St. Joseph Villa, 110 W. Wissahickon Ave., Flourtown, PA 19030 or to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Born in Elizabeth, NJ and raised in Roselle Park, June was the daughter of Thomas Palmer and Gertrude Florence Benjamin. June married Robert Edward Coates in 1955. She and Bob raised their family in Roselle Park and Belle Mead, NJ. June was a devoted wife and mother.
After raising six children, June, an excellent cook and baker, launched a business specializing in wedding cakes while returning to school part-time. She then earned her degree in English literature from Douglass College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. After graduation, June became a registrar at Rutgers University. Following Bob’s death in 1996, June moved to Lambertville where she was closer to family. A woman of deep faith, June was deeply involved with St. John the Evangelist RC Church in Lambertville and St. Martin of Tours RC Church in New Hope, PA. She was a eucharistic minister, bringing Communion to the homebound. June shared her love of the church through the RCIA program, welcoming and educating newly formed Catholics. She also served in a bereavement ministry, Beginning Experiences, for many years. An avid sports fan, June always rooted for the NY Giants, Mets and all Rutgers teams. At home she treasured the company of her cat, Clancy.
June is survived by her six children and their spouses Carol and James Harding of Lambertville, Robert E. Coates, Jr. of Hatboro, PA, Thomas and Janet Coates of Galax, VA, Michael and Lisa Coates of Hawthorne, NJ, Peter and Kelly Coates of Cranford, NJ and Ellen Ruhlman of Hillsborough, NJ. She was proud of her 17 grandchildren: James (Vaish) Harding Jr, Lisa (Dan) Ballerini, Michael (Megan) Harding, Robert E. “Chip” Coates III, Megan Coates (fiancé Hans Abendroth), Thomas Jr (Ciji) Coates, Matthew (Margaret) Coates; Lauren (Joe) Munson, Patrick Coates, Anne (Dylan) Clark, Emily Coates, Peter Coates, Patrick Coates, Erin Coates and DJ Ruhlman (fiancé Courtney Parks), Robert Ruhlman and Sean Ruhlman and her six great-grandchildren: Benjamin Harding, Julia Ballerini, Jackson Coates, Liam Coates, Oliver Munson and Cameron Clark. June’s sister, Barbara Whitmeyer, resides in Fairfield CT. Her sister-in-law Sister Anne Lucille “Looch” Coates, SSJ, lives in Flourtown, PA. June also had many friends and extended family.
There will be calling hours at the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, 21 York Street, Lambertville, NJ on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 from 3 to 8 pm. Limited street parking is available. Additional parking is available nearby at St. John the Evangelist Church in Lambertville.
The funeral Mass will be offered on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 10:30 am at St. John the Evangelist Church, 44 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530.
Interment will be private.
Donations in June’s memory may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, St. Joseph Villa, 110 W. Wissahickon Ave., Flourtown, PA 19030 or to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.