Viewing For Bridgewater Woman Who Was 'Ray Of Light' Is Monday

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The viewing for a beloved young Bridgewater woman, who died in a head-on crash in Bernardsville on Jan. 23, is being held Monday night.

The viewing for Ashley L. Cardona, 26, of Bridgewater will be held 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.

Cardona was killed in a head-on collision on Jan. 23 on Route 202, Bernardsville Police Lt. John Remian told Patch. (See Related: Bridgewater Woman Killed In Bernardsville Head-On Crash)

Cardona was driving a 2009 Honda Civic west on Route 202 South at 5:02 p.m. when she crossed over the double yellow lines and struck a 2017 Cadillac Escalade head on coming in the opposite direction, Remian said.

Cardona was airlifted to Morristown Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead.

Cardona had 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. (See Related: Fundraiser Set Up For Beloved Bridgewater Woman's Services)

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.

(Image by Jarixa Maldonado: Ashley Cardona)

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