Loretta Kirchner Owen passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on April 3, 2014 after a valiant struggle with dementia. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, wife, friend, Rutherfordian and world traveler. Born in Queens, New York, she was the oldest of Loretta and Gerard Kirchner’s 6 children. At the age of 5, she moved to the house she loved, 92 Beckwith Place. Along with her siblings, she attended St. Mary Grammar and High Schools. After the war, she married, Jesse Owen, “the boy who lived across the street” and together, they raised their 6 children in the house they loved, “92”.
Loretta was a devoted parishioner of The Church of St. Mary, a member of the Rosary Altar Society, the Rutherford Woman’s Club, Community Chest, Starfish and the Kip Center. She was also a Eucharistic Minister at Passaic General Hospital and an Executive Secretary at Fairleigh Dickenson University, Rutherford.
After her children were grown and her beloved Jesse met an early death in 1978, she rebounded and embarked on a new life as an active community volunteer and family matriarch. She delighted in the weddings of her children, and the births of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed golf, playing bridge and traveling to places around the world with her friend and companion, the late Ken Schwarz. She earned accolades for her community service and received St. Mary High School Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005.
Dementia began to take its toll when Loretta was in her late 80’s. She moved from Beckwith Place to Van Dyk Manor in Montclair, NJ. Loretta maintained her optimism, wit, her thirst for life, and her love for her family until the end.
Loretta is survived by her children: Daniel Owen and wife, Cookie of Dallas TX. , James Owen and wife Fran of Troy, NY., Lorrie Motylinski and husband ,Tom of Clifton,NJ . Nancy Quinn of Fair Lawn, NJ. Richard Owen of Durham NC., and Robert Owen and fiancé Louise Lees of Black Mountain., NC, her grandchildren: Brian and Timothy Quinn, Meredith Nishida, Christine Rayot, Kate Motylinski, Susan Peters, Julia Beth Owen, Daniel, Connor and Richard Owen, and by 3 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her devoted sisters: Mrs. Rita Kennedy of Middletown, NJ, Sr. Catherine Gerard Kirchner OP of Montclair, NJ and many nieces and nephews.
Loretta was predeceased by her beloved husband, Jesse, her siblings: Gerard Kirchner, Fr. Frederick Kirchner OFM, Theresa Ebert and her grandson, Taylor Owen.
The family wishes to thank the outstanding caregivers at Van Dyk Manor for their love, kindness and compassion during the final years of Loretta’s life. They made Mom feel she was on “an extended vacation!” In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Loretta’s memory to: Van Dyk Employee Fund/ Montclair, 42 North Mountain Ave. Montclair, NJ 07042.
Family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 8 from 3-8PM at Collins Calhoun Funeral Home, 19 Lincoln Ave. Rutherford, NJ .A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 9 at 9:30AM from Funeral Home for 10:30AM at the Church of St. Mary, Rutherford, NJ. Entombment at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum, Paterson.
Donations may be made on behalf of Loretta to Van Dyk Employee Fund / Montclair, 42 North Mountain Ave., Montclair NJ 07042

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