Obituary for Donald M. Finn
Donald M. Finn, 88 of Spring Lake Heights, entered into eternal rest at home on March 6, 2021. Don was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ, to the late Nellie and Michael Finn. Don was a family man, a man of faith, and a man admired for his jovial personality, bright smile, exuberance, and self-reliance.
Don was predeceased by his wife Mary (nee Dugan) in 2007. Surviving are his son Don, daughter-in-law Chris, daughter Colleen, daughter Marybeth, son-in-law Ken Krauss, and son Kevin; his grandchildren Donny and Kelly Finn, Colin Richmond, Kaitlyn and Kristen Krauss, and Shane Finn; sisters Margaret Gilligan (Bill) and Eileen Hanlon (Tom); and his dear good friend Patricia Butler.
Don graduated from St. Peter’s Prep in 1950, where he excelled in athletics and academics. As an accomplished student-athlete, Don was honored with the Outstanding Student Athlete Award, given to graduating seniors, at both St. Peter’s Prep and St. Peter’s College.
Don interrupted his college studies after his sophomore year for a two-year stint in the Army, serving his time in Germany. He returned to St. Peter’s and graduated in 1956 with a degree in English.
He spent his professional career working for JC Penny Co. in New York City and then his final few years in Dallas, TX. He rose through the ranks to become the Corporate Compensation Manager. He retired in 1997. Although he was kept quite busy with his JCPenney career and raising his family, he found time to develop his interest in handy-man projects. Throughout his life he continually taught himself how to use every tool imaginable and proceeded to tackle any house project, big or small, that required attention. After Jersey City, Don moved his family to East Brunswick. Five years later, in 1974, the family moved to Spring Lake into a tired, old home that offered Don an endless array of projects that he proudly took on.
Don loved living in Spring Lake where he enjoyed running on the boardwalk. When his running days ended, he enjoyed sitting on a boardwalk bench reading the newspaper and sipping his coffee.
Don was a daily communicant at St. Catharine and St. Margaret Parish in Spring Lake, which gave him the inspiration to do good deeds, one of which was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels for many years. Don’s Prep classmates started a First Friday Club years ago that gathered every first Friday of the month to attend mass and have lunch. Although there are only a few classmates left, that Prep tradition continues to this day.
Visitation will be on Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 9:00am until 10:00am at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am in St. Catharine’s Church, 215 Essex Ave., Spring Lake. Entombment will follow in St. Catharine’s Cemetery, Sea Girt.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there are limitations on capacity at the funeral home; guests are asked to briefly greet the family and then exit the building. Face-coverings must be worn at all times.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Peter’s Prep - 144 Grand St, Jersey City, NJ 07302.
Don was predeceased by his wife Mary (nee Dugan) in 2007. Surviving are his son Don, daughter-in-law Chris, daughter Colleen, daughter Marybeth, son-in-law Ken Krauss, and son Kevin; his grandchildren Donny and Kelly Finn, Colin Richmond, Kaitlyn and Kristen Krauss, and Shane Finn; sisters Margaret Gilligan (Bill) and Eileen Hanlon (Tom); and his dear good friend Patricia Butler.
Don graduated from St. Peter’s Prep in 1950, where he excelled in athletics and academics. As an accomplished student-athlete, Don was honored with the Outstanding Student Athlete Award, given to graduating seniors, at both St. Peter’s Prep and St. Peter’s College.
Don interrupted his college studies after his sophomore year for a two-year stint in the Army, serving his time in Germany. He returned to St. Peter’s and graduated in 1956 with a degree in English.
He spent his professional career working for JC Penny Co. in New York City and then his final few years in Dallas, TX. He rose through the ranks to become the Corporate Compensation Manager. He retired in 1997. Although he was kept quite busy with his JCPenney career and raising his family, he found time to develop his interest in handy-man projects. Throughout his life he continually taught himself how to use every tool imaginable and proceeded to tackle any house project, big or small, that required attention. After Jersey City, Don moved his family to East Brunswick. Five years later, in 1974, the family moved to Spring Lake into a tired, old home that offered Don an endless array of projects that he proudly took on.
Don loved living in Spring Lake where he enjoyed running on the boardwalk. When his running days ended, he enjoyed sitting on a boardwalk bench reading the newspaper and sipping his coffee.
Don was a daily communicant at St. Catharine and St. Margaret Parish in Spring Lake, which gave him the inspiration to do good deeds, one of which was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels for many years. Don’s Prep classmates started a First Friday Club years ago that gathered every first Friday of the month to attend mass and have lunch. Although there are only a few classmates left, that Prep tradition continues to this day.
Visitation will be on Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 9:00am until 10:00am at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am in St. Catharine’s Church, 215 Essex Ave., Spring Lake. Entombment will follow in St. Catharine’s Cemetery, Sea Girt.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there are limitations on capacity at the funeral home; guests are asked to briefly greet the family and then exit the building. Face-coverings must be worn at all times.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Peter’s Prep - 144 Grand St, Jersey City, NJ 07302.