Jeanne Gillen, 76, of Hazlet passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 surrounded by her family. Jeanne was born on July 20, 1948 to the late John and Rita Russoniello. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. 

Jeanne spent her life as a devoted educator. She began her career teaching home economics in the 1970s at Saint Joseph of the Palisade High School in West New York. While at Saint Joseph’s she also served as the head coach for the women’s swim team, earning the prestigious honor of being inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame. After moving to Hazlet, Jeanne worked as a teacher at several levels.  She began in the township preschool (known as Duck School), followed by time at Union Avenue Middle School and Raritan High School.  

Jerome and Jeanne were married in 1979 and spent 45 wonderful years together. After moving to Hazlet they became involved in a variety of community activities. Since 1985 they have been faithful parishioners of Saint Benedict Parish. Jeanne also enjoyed knitting and watching reruns of M.A.S.H. and Hallmark Christmas movies. She was a very talented baker and seamstress. Every year she made huge batches of Christmas cookies and Easter bread for her large Italian family. She also tapped into the Irish/Scottish side of her husband Jerome’s heritage when she began making kilts by hand.

Above all, Jeanne was always the biggest cheerleader for whatever activities her children were involved in. She was never more proud than when her daughter Jeanmarie followed in her footsteps as a teacher and her daughter Jennifer became a physician. In recent years she was thrilled to be a loving “Nani” to her precious granddaughter Amelia.

Jeanne is survived by her loving husband, Jerome Gillen; daughters Jeanmarie Gillen and Jennifer Gillen Richardson and her husband Christopher; granddaughter Amelia Richardson; sisters Donna Russoniello, Rita Dorgan (Patrick), Patricia Russoniello (John Ward); brothers John Russoniello (Kathleen), Mark Russoniello; many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. 

The family will receive friends and relatives on Monday, January 13th, from 4pm to 8pm at Holmdel Funeral Home at 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:45am, Tuesday, January 14th at Saint Benedict Roman Catholic Church in Holmdel. Entombment to follow in St. Gabriel’s Mausoleum, Marlboro.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City in memory of Jeanne Gillen; https://www.saintpeters.edu/give