Doris B. Hudak, 94, of Tinton Falls, NJ passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 11, 2024.

Doris was born August 4, 1929 in New York, NY. She graduated from Bayonne High School in 1947 and married Thomas James Hudak in 1951. They lived in Elizabeth for 27 years before relocating to Red Bank. After raising 4 children, Doris went back to school in 1980 to Brookdale Community College to focus her studies in Human Services. Her experience at Brookdale led her to be a grief facilitator and a career counselor, and she eventually received her BS in Human Services from Thomas Edison State University in 1990 at the age of 61.

Doris worked at Brookdale as a Cooperative Education Coordinator, guiding students to find their strengths and interests. She was active with the Alumni Association and later served as President, where she spearheaded multiple fundraising campaigns. She acquired a life-sized statue of “Regret,” a racehorse that was trained for the Kentucky Derby on Brookdale Farms, the land where the college now resides.

Doris had many hobbies, but most of all she loved to travel. When the Brookdale Asia Society was seeking new students, her interest in China propelled her to join. She became the cymbalist, accompanying performances of the traditional Dragon Dance. She won a gold medal in karate at the age of 68 in France and her enthusiasm was not diminished by the fact that she was the only one competing in her age group.

At the age of 70, Doris completed a solo trip around the world visiting China, Inner Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal, India, Egypt, the Greek Islands, Iceland, and Greenland in 30 days. At the age of 76, she walked El Camino de Santiago across northern Spain backpacking alone for 8 days and completing 70 miles. She authored two books about these experiences: “Journey of a Dream: One Woman’s Travel Tale” and “A Passage: A Pilgrimage of Trials, Discovery and Gifts Along El Camino”.

In the last year of her life, she was able to combine her lifetime love of horses and her passion for human services by volunteering with “Serenity Stables, From Combat to Calm” which provides equine therapy to veterans.

Doris leaves behind her husband of 73 years, Thomas J. Hudak, daughter Susan Monticello and son-in-law James Monticello, son Thomas J. Hudak, Jr. and daughter-in-law Mandy Leung Hudak, daughter Janice Hudak, and daughter Veronica Hudak-Moe and son-in-law Kenneth Moe. She is survived by her grandchildren: Michelle Monticello and husband Marck Borre, Jenna Monticello and husband Dan Nelson, Thomas J. Hudak, III, Anastasia Hudak, and Morgan Hudak.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to “Serenity Stables, From Combat to Calm” in Doris’ name.

Viewing: Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 S. Holmdel Rd., Holmdel, NJ; Monday July 15, 2024 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Funeral Mass: The Parish of St. Mary’s, 1 Phalanx Rd., Colts Neck, NJ; Tuesday July 16, 2024 at 11:00 AM