Ellen R. Zientek, 92, formerly of Spring Lake Heights, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, at Allegria at Ocean Grove. Her family remembers her love of music-she once played upright bass in Carnegie Hall. She loved to make everyone laugh. She was proud of her Irish heritage until the end.
Mrs. Zientek (nee McCarthy) was born and raised in Bayonne. She lived in Rahway, where she raised her family, before moving to Spring Lake Heights in 1992. She was a graduate of the Bayonne Hospital School of Nursing, former President of the Bayonne Hospital Nursing Alumni, a member of the Occupational Health Nurses of N.J., and former President of the Rosary Altar Society at St. Mary’s Church, Rahway. She enjoyed a distinguished career in nursing before retiring, but above all else, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Mrs. Zientek was predeceased by her parents, John F. and Kathleen McCarthy, and by her siblings, Consuela Murtagh, and James and John McCarthy. She is survived by her beloved husband of 64 years, Joseph F. Zientek. Also surviving are her children and their spouses, Jan and Susan Zientek, Farmingdale, Mary Ellen Cook, Belmar, Mark and Virginia Zientek, Sea Girt, Paul and Diane Zientek, Yardley, Pa. and Patricia Zientek Bonhag and William Bonhag, of Bluffton, SC, as well as 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will take place at O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy. 35, Wall, on Friday. July 27, 2018, from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Margaret’s Church, Spring Lake, on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at 10:30 AM, followed by entombment at St. Catharine’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s New Jersey, via www.alznj.org. Condolences may be sent via www.obrienfuneralhome.com.

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RN