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November 24, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, December 2, 2013 from 4-8 PM.
A Funeral Mass will be offered on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, 10:30 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne. Please meet directly at the church.
Gail Wilkinson Juster, age 71 of Wayne, died peacefully on Sunday, November 24, 2013 after a courageous two-year battle with cancer.
Gail was born in Brooklyn, NY. After World War II, her parents joined the wave of people moving to the suburbs, settling into a new house in Fair Lawn. Nine-year old Gail enrolled in Warren Point Elementary School right down the street from her house on 31st Street. Living so close to school, Gail was able to come home every day for a nice lunch prepared by her grandma. Grandma was also a talented seamstress who loved to make beautiful clothes for her little granddaughter, so it was not uncommon for Gail to change into a new outfit and maybe have her hair restyled before she returned to school for afternoon classes.
Gail went on to attend Fair Lawn High School where she was a Majorette. She graduated in 1959 and pursued further studies at Trenton State College, graduating in 1963 with a BA in Elementary Education. During her teaching career she took graduate courses at William Paterson College in teaching the handicapped and early childhood education. Her first teaching position came from the principal at Packanack Elementary School who liked hiring graduates of Trenton State College. She taught third grade for two years before taking a position, at her mother’s urging, as a fourth grade teacher at Radburn Elementary School back in her hometown of Fair Lawn. During her two years at Radburn School, Gail married Robert Juster on April 16, 1966 at Saint Ann’s R.C. Church in Fair Lawn.
After a long break from teaching to raise her two daughters (Cathie and Suzanne), Gail eased back into teaching in 1976 in the Wayne schools as a part-time substitute and as a bedside instructor. In 1980, she began to teach basic skills at John F. Kennedy and Pines Lake Elementary School, George Washington Middle School, and Wayne Valley High School. She was awarded the 1988-1989 prestigious state Teacher of the Year award for Wayne Schools. Finally, Gail settled into a long and rewarding career of nineteen years as a first grade teacher at Wayne’s Lafayette Elementary School. Throughout her career, Gail was known as many students’ favorite teacher. When children received their teacher assignments in late summer, they felt like they won the lottery if the letter stated that Mrs. Juster was going to be their teacher. Gail took such pride in her job that she rarely missed a day of school. She retired in 2009, beloved by her students and respected by her colleagues.
The influence of Gail’s grandmother, making her all those beautiful clothes during her childhood, made an indelible impression. As a result, Gail was fastidious about the way she looked. She loved her weekly hair and nail appointments, developing lifelong friendships with the people she met over the years. Even throughout her months of chemo, she almost never missed a nail appointment. It was one of her favorite outings with some of her favorite people. Another outing she loved was shopping, especially for clothing. In recent years, when it was too difficult to get to the store, she was delighted to discover QVC and HSN. Gail also had a passion for food and loved to try new restaurants, especially with her family.
As a young couple, Bob and Gail loved to vacation at the Jersey Shore. When their daughters were growing up, the family continued to vacation down the shore and also took camping vacations to another favorite spot, Cape Cod. In 2000, she and Bob realized their dream and purchased a home on Long Beach Island where they enjoyed many wonderful summers with their daughters and their husbands, and their grandchildren.
Gail adored her four grandchildren and she had a special relationship with each one of them. She was so proud of them and loved to see her grandchildren in their school programs and concerts. After retiring she sometimes volunteered to read to the first and second grade classes at Packanack School. Her grandson Matthew was in one of the classes and later, when Gail became ill, he would give Grandma “Matthew medicine” to make her better. She loved to sit with her granddaughters Brooke, Grace, and Katie and comment on TV shows, fashion magazines, and everything that was going on in their lives.
Gail will always be remembered and adored for her many acts of thoughtfulness and generosity. She took care of her cherished mother who lived with her and Bob for many years. Gail felt like her daughters were her greatest accomplishments. She spoke to them every day on the phone, wanting to hear every detail of their days and always offering advice to them. Even while in the hospital, she made sure that all of her family would have a special gift she selected for them for this coming Christmas and she made sure a visiting friend received her birthday gift. Gail was a great listener who displayed a genuine and loving interest in each person she met. Her amazing knack for remembering details made everyone feel special and important and everyone felt an attraction to her warm and outgoing personality and her wonderful hugs and kisses. Gail treasured all of her friends who visited nearly every day while she was in hospice.
Surviving are her beloved husband of 47 years, Robert; her two dear daughters: Catherine and husband Vincent Przybylinski of Wayne, and Suzanne and husband Joshua Shapiro of Wayne; and four adored grandchildren: Brooke and Grace Przybylinski and Katie and Matthew Shapiro. Gail was predeceased by her loving brother William “Liam” Wilkinson in 2012.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Gail’s name are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 (www.stjude.org).
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, December 2, 2013 from 4-8 PM.
A Funeral Mass will be offered on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, 10:30 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne. Please meet directly at the church.
November 24, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, December 2, 2013 from 4-8 PM.
A Funeral Mass will be offered on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, 10:30 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne. Please meet directly at the church.
Gail Wilkinson Juster, age 71 of Wayne, died peacefully on Sunday, November 24, 2013 after a courageous two-year battle with cancer.
Gail was born in Brooklyn, NY. After World War II, her parents joined the wave of people moving to the suburbs, settling into a new house in Fair Lawn. Nine-year old Gail enrolled in Warren Point Elementary School right down the street from her house on 31st Street. Living so close to school, Gail was able to come home every day for a nice lunch prepared by her grandma. Grandma was also a talented seamstress who loved to make beautiful clothes for her little granddaughter, so it was not uncommon for Gail to change into a new outfit and maybe have her hair restyled before she returned to school for afternoon classes.
Gail went on to attend Fair Lawn High School where she was a Majorette. She graduated in 1959 and pursued further studies at Trenton State College, graduating in 1963 with a BA in Elementary Education. During her teaching career she took graduate courses at William Paterson College in teaching the handicapped and early childhood education. Her first teaching position came from the principal at Packanack Elementary School who liked hiring graduates of Trenton State College. She taught third grade for two years before taking a position, at her mother’s urging, as a fourth grade teacher at Radburn Elementary School back in her hometown of Fair Lawn. During her two years at Radburn School, Gail married Robert Juster on April 16, 1966 at Saint Ann’s R.C. Church in Fair Lawn.
After a long break from teaching to raise her two daughters (Cathie and Suzanne), Gail eased back into teaching in 1976 in the Wayne schools as a part-time substitute and as a bedside instructor. In 1980, she began to teach basic skills at John F. Kennedy and Pines Lake Elementary School, George Washington Middle School, and Wayne Valley High School. She was awarded the 1988-1989 prestigious state Teacher of the Year award for Wayne Schools. Finally, Gail settled into a long and rewarding career of nineteen years as a first grade teacher at Wayne’s Lafayette Elementary School. Throughout her career, Gail was known as many students’ favorite teacher. When children received their teacher assignments in late summer, they felt like they won the lottery if the letter stated that Mrs. Juster was going to be their teacher. Gail took such pride in her job that she rarely missed a day of school. She retired in 2009, beloved by her students and respected by her colleagues.
The influence of Gail’s grandmother, making her all those beautiful clothes during her childhood, made an indelible impression. As a result, Gail was fastidious about the way she looked. She loved her weekly hair and nail appointments, developing lifelong friendships with the people she met over the years. Even throughout her months of chemo, she almost never missed a nail appointment. It was one of her favorite outings with some of her favorite people. Another outing she loved was shopping, especially for clothing. In recent years, when it was too difficult to get to the store, she was delighted to discover QVC and HSN. Gail also had a passion for food and loved to try new restaurants, especially with her family.
As a young couple, Bob and Gail loved to vacation at the Jersey Shore. When their daughters were growing up, the family continued to vacation down the shore and also took camping vacations to another favorite spot, Cape Cod. In 2000, she and Bob realized their dream and purchased a home on Long Beach Island where they enjoyed many wonderful summers with their daughters and their husbands, and their grandchildren.
Gail adored her four grandchildren and she had a special relationship with each one of them. She was so proud of them and loved to see her grandchildren in their school programs and concerts. After retiring she sometimes volunteered to read to the first and second grade classes at Packanack School. Her grandson Matthew was in one of the classes and later, when Gail became ill, he would give Grandma “Matthew medicine” to make her better. She loved to sit with her granddaughters Brooke, Grace, and Katie and comment on TV shows, fashion magazines, and everything that was going on in their lives.
Gail will always be remembered and adored for her many acts of thoughtfulness and generosity. She took care of her cherished mother who lived with her and Bob for many years. Gail felt like her daughters were her greatest accomplishments. She spoke to them every day on the phone, wanting to hear every detail of their days and always offering advice to them. Even while in the hospital, she made sure that all of her family would have a special gift she selected for them for this coming Christmas and she made sure a visiting friend received her birthday gift. Gail was a great listener who displayed a genuine and loving interest in each person she met. Her amazing knack for remembering details made everyone feel special and important and everyone felt an attraction to her warm and outgoing personality and her wonderful hugs and kisses. Gail treasured all of her friends who visited nearly every day while she was in hospice.
Surviving are her beloved husband of 47 years, Robert; her two dear daughters: Catherine and husband Vincent Przybylinski of Wayne, and Suzanne and husband Joshua Shapiro of Wayne; and four adored grandchildren: Brooke and Grace Przybylinski and Katie and Matthew Shapiro. Gail was predeceased by her loving brother William “Liam” Wilkinson in 2012.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Gail’s name are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 (www.stjude.org).
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