Fundraiser Set Up For Beloved Bridgewater Woman's Services

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The community is mourning for the loss of a beloved young Bridgewater woman who died in a head-on crash in Bernardsville Tuesday night.

Ashley L. Cardona, 26, of Bridgewater graduated from Bridgewater Raritan High School in 2009 and received her associate's degree from Raritan Valley Community College.

"Ashley had a huge heart, was always making people smile, was fun and adventurous, loved animals, taking trips with her family to her country Puerto Rico, and lived life to the fullest," her obituary states.

Cardona was very involved in giving back as she recently held a drive for the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

"She would light up a room with her caring and loving energy, and will be missed tremendously by all who knew and loved her," her obituary states.

A gofundme page has been set up by her friend Lauren Ur to help cover her funeral service costs. More than $2,000 has already been raised out of the $5,000 goal.

"Everyone that knew Ashley, (and by no surprise, that's a lot of people) knew that her smile lit up the room. Any one who got the privilege of spending the smallest amount of time with her immediately felt her overwhelmingly charming spirit and soul. Her beauty made heads turn daily. She was the spicy firecracker that kept you on your toes and she would give her last dollar to help someone else," said Ur on the gofundme page.

Cardona is preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Abraham Cardona (2010).

Surviving are her beloved parents, Brenda Oller of Bridgewater and Carlos Cardona of Bridgewater; four cherished sisters, Monica Cardona of New Hope, Pennsylvania, and Veronica, Viviana, and Vanessa Cardona of Bridgewater; her paternal grandmother, Nilda Negron of Lares, Puerto Rico; her maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Fritzinger and step grandfather Lamont “ Moe” Fritzinger of Bridgewater; her uncle, David Cardona of Puerto Rico; her step-paternal grandmother, Carmen Cardona of Isabella, Puerto Rico; her stepdad Acacio Oliveira of Bridgewater; her step aunt/godmother, Betsy Nunez of Bridgewater; two loving step-uncles, Joe Rodriguez of Bound Brook, and David Rodriguez of Lapactcong; her beloved boyfriend of two and a half years, EJ Williams of Hillsborough and many wonderful aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Viewing will be held Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Branchburg Funeral Home, 910 US Highway 202 South, Branchburg.

Funeral services will start with a prayer at 9:15 a.m. at the funeral home on Tuesday followed by a 10 a.m. funeral liturgy at St. Bernard R.C. Church in Bridgewater. Entombment will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery & Mausoleum.

Family and friends have been pouring out their emotions as they shared photos and memories of Cardona.

"Waking up every morning with this amazing person that I was blessed to have in my life on my mind. I know your looking down on us now," Jessica Colon said.

"You have touched the lives of everyone and you will always be remembered and loved for the rest of our lives," said Athena Ross on the funeral home page.

"You always seem to light up the room with that beautiful smile. I will always remember you... you will be truly missed.. until we meet again," Vanessa posted on the funeral home page.

"Your spirit lives on with each life you touched. Ashley you were an angel in disguise and now you have your wings. May you rest in sweetest peace," Melissa Perez posted on the funeral home page.

• See Related: Bridgewater Woman Killed In Bernardsville Head-On Crash

(Images via Jarixa Maldonado: Ashley Cardona)

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