Funeral Services Set For Beloved Donovan Catholic Teacher

TOMS RIVER, NJ -- Memorial services have been set for this week for beloved Donovan Catholic teacher Naomi Delora Buechner of Toms River, who died March 1 after a short illness, according to her obituary on the Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home website. She was 62.

Mrs. Buechner was an English and creative writing teacher at Donovan Catholic for nearly 20 years, according to her obituary. She motivated her students with caring patience to help them succeed in all aspects of their life. Naomi was involved with the show choir, musicals, and was the editor of the student literary publication known as Serendipity. Naomi was passionate about reading, sewing, knitting, and zumba.

She loved to dance and was known for being the first one on the dance floor at weddings and parties with her beloved husband of 32 years, John Edward Buechner. The two best friends also loved to travel to many of her favorite locales near water and sand. They were blessed with opportunities to visit the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico and Ireland.

Mrs. Buechner was a current member of Holy Cross Lutheran and former member of East Dover Baptist Church, where she sang with the church choir. Naomi had a strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and her faith shined through her love of her family, church, and everyone she touched in life, according to her obituary.

She was born in Pana, Illinois, but spent her childhood and young adult life in Chesterton, Indiana. She relocated with family to New Jersey in 1984 and graduated from Stockton College with a bachelor's degree in English and received a master's in education from Georgian Court University.

Naomi is predeceased by her first husband John Solomon Bodine. She is survived by her son, Jason Bodine and wife Kimberly, daughter Helena Bodine Berardinelli and husband Michael, and stepchildren, Kristina Mulchay and husband Michael, Zeb Buechner, Toby Buechner and wife Misse, and four grandchildren, Daphne, Patrick, Brody and Amanda; four siblings, Fred Alumbaugh, Thelma Scott, Jodi Smith, and Ray Alumbaugh, and many beloved nieces and nephews. She also is survived by her mother Dililia Hemenway and mother-in-law Phyllis Buechner. Naomi is also survived by another love of her life, her pet Bichon, Sadie.

A memorial gathering will be held 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main St., Toms River, and a celebration of her life service at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1500 Hooper Ave., Toms River at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 9, 2016.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Donovan Catholic for the Naomi Buechner Creative Writing Scholarship (http://donovancatholic.org/giving) and/or Your Grandmother's Cupboard (http://www.ygcnj.org ).