Manville, NJ- Julia (Bogush) Gekosky, 86, entered into eternal life on Mother's Day, May 10, 2015 at her Nursing Home, The Pavillions at Forrestal, in Princeton, NJ. Born in Kulpmont, PA, daughter of the late Dimitrius (Metro) and Alexandra (Kuzmycz) Bogush, Julia moved to Manville in 1961. She continued as a resident of the Borough for 50 years. Due to the house damage caused by Hurricane Irene in 2011, she took up residency at the Nursing Home. Julia's Mother passed on Mother's Day, during Julia's youth. On her death bed, her Mother gave Julia a Silver Peace Dollar, which Julia carried with her as a remembrance for the rest of her life. In recent years, Julia gave each of her children and grandchildren a similar Peace Dollar, wishing they all would find "Peace and Happiness" in their lives. She always treated Mother's Day as very special.

Julia retired in 1993 from Hoescht Celanese in Bridgewater where she was a mail room supervisor. She was previously employed with Jelco, a Johnson & Johnson Company in Raritan, as an assembly worker. She was a communicant of Christ The Redeemer Parish (Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Manville), a member of the Manville Senior Citizens Club, went for senior lunches at Manville Seniors sponsored by the Manville First Aid & Rescue Squad, for years, and attended activities at the Adult Day Center Of Somerset County, for several happy years. Julia always lent a hand to others such as helping drive her peers to various events, while she was able. She loved walking around Lost Valley. She loved children.

Julia lived for her family. She was a caring mother and grandmother with every ounce of her being. All her children and grandchildren recognize how blessed they were, and are, for having her. She was also very close to her siblings, and their families.

There were 15 children from her parents. Besides her parents, twelve dear siblings predeceased her: Mary Bogush, Peter Bogush, (Baby) Anna Bogush, Stella (Justina) Whalen, (Baby) Nettie Bogush, Nicholas Bogush, Anna Rzotkiewicz, Baby Boy Bogush, Anastasia "Netsy" Poploski, Michael Bogush, Walter Bogush, and Helen Bogush. Dear and very close siblings, Sophie Janezic and Rose Zawalick, survive Julia.

Julia lost the love of her life, her beloved husband, Edward John Gekosky, on March 20, 1970. Julia leaves behind to cherish her memory, four loving children, Roberta Soika of Rocky Hill, NJ and her significant other Henry Robert Scaffedi, Edward John Gekosky and his wife Bernadette of Virginia Beach, VA, Raymond Gekosky and his wife Adrienne Bonosevich of Eugene OR, and Sandra Jean Gekosky and her husband Edward Kaplan of Amesville, OH. She will be deeply missed by six precious grandchildren, Jennifer and Keith Soika, Edward Derek Gekosky, Bevin Kateri Reinen, Eli Bonosevich-Gekosky, Sarah Kaplan; and four great grandchildren (Eddy, Maya, Marisa, and Isaac Gekosky).

Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation at Fucillo & Warren Funeral Home, 205 South Main Street, Manville, NJ 08835 on Saturday May 16 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Additional visitation will take place at C.J. Lucas Funeral Home, 1053 Chestnut Street, Kulpmont, PA 17834 on Sunday, May 17 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. and on Monday, May 18 from 9-9:30 a.m.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 18 beginning 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home followed by a funeral liturgy at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Angels Roman Catholic Church, 855 Scott Street, Kulpmont, PA 17834. Committal words and interment will follow at St. Casimir's Cemetery in Marion Heights, PA where Julia will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband Edward.



Memorial contributions may be made in Julia's memory to Alzheimer's Association, Greater NJ Chapter, 400 Morris Avenue Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834 or the Adult Day Center Of Somerset County, Inc., 872 East Main St., Bridgewater, NJ 08807. For those interested in seeing additional photos of Julia, please visit her Facebook page.