Services Set For Mary Ellen Hudson, Active Toms River Volunteer

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Funeral services have been set for Mary Ellen Hudson, a member of the Toms River Township Historic Preservation Association and a 25-year employee of the Toms River Regional School District and consummate community volunteer.

Mrs. Hudson died Friday, Dec. 8, after a brief illness, according to her obituary on the Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home website. She was 89.

Mrs. Hudson was a lifelong resident of Toms River and a proud member of the Toms River High School Class of 1946. She was inducted into the Toms River Schools Hall of Fame in 2000.

According to her Hall of Fame biography on the Toms River Schools' website, Mrs. Hudson worked for the district from 1966 to 1990, starting out as a secretary and progressing to the assistant board secretary. She spent more than 20 years working with the negotiating teams for the school board and all of the unions. Mrs. Hudson served as president of the Ocean County Association of School Business Officials. "Her penchant for helping others led her to use her considerable expertise in overseeing the school board elections to publish a standardized School Elections Workbook," the biography notes. "Mary Ellen, as chair of a committee, and other business officials prepared the book which was distributed by the N.J. Association of School Business Officials and used by hundreds of less-experienced school district personnel throughout New Jersey."

In addition to her career with the school district, Mrs. Hudson was a very active volunteer in the community. She was the past president of the Community Medical Center Auxiliary and the Suburban Club. She was a former trustee of Community Medical Center, a commissioner to the Toms River Township Historic Preservation Commission, chairperson of the Toms River Schools Centennial Celebration Committee, a member of the Toms River Schools Student Loan Fund Committee, and a trustee of the Ocean County Historical Society.

She also chaired the Mothers' March of Dimes and served as treasurer for the Ocean County March of Dimes Chapter for many years, according to her Hall of Fame biography. "While attending a gathering of area representatives, she experienced the thrill of being in the presence of Dr. Jonas Salk when the announcement was made that a breakthrough had occurred in discovering the long-awaited polio vaccine," the biography notes.

The Suburban Club raised thousands of dollars for the local fire companies, first aid squads, the hospital, Organization for the Blind, Visiting Nurses, School Nurses Relief Fund, and more. Mrs. Hudson also served as a judge for the annual Toms River Halloween Parade for 45 years, her Hall of Fame biography notes.

In addition to her community service, Mrs. Hudson was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Toms River, where she served as an Elder, Clerk of Session, and member of the Sanctuary Choir. She also served as a commissioner to the Presbytery of Monmouth.

Mrs. Hudson was predeceased by her husband, William Hudson; her parents George Franklin Hennessey and Agnes (Engelke) Hennessey; her sister, Carolyn Garthwaite, and her brother, Franklin Hennessey. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Michael Hudson of Toms River; Nancy Aaberg and her husband, Robert, of Marysville, CA.; Carol Harrison and her husband, Peter, of Beachwood; and Thomas Hudson and his wife, Lori, of Toms River. She also is survived by her grandchildren, Travis Hudson, Carly Hudson, and Garrett Hudson, all of Toms River; Kevin Aaberg and his wife, Mary, of Santa Ana, CA, and Kristen Mathews and her husband, Gregory, of Marysville, CA, and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main St., Toms River. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the Presbyterian Church of Toms River, 1070 Hooper Ave. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Presbyterian Church of Toms River Church Music Fund or Music Endowment Fund, the Ocean County Historical Society, or a charity of your choice. Family and friends are invited to visit www.andersonandcampbell.com to leave tributes to her family.

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