Obituary of Ethel Elizabeth Gerencser

Our dear mother, Ethel Elizabeth (Kovacs) Gerencser,  peacefully passed away on January 28, 2023, at the age of 97.   She lived a long and fulfilling life as a wonderful and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  As a long time resident and native of New Brunwick, NJ, Ethel was a well-loved member of St Ladislaus Parish, St Peter’s University Hospital, where she worked as a registed nurse for 40 years, and the New Brunswick Hungarian community. 

Born in New Brunswick, NJ, on December 16, 1925, to the late Kalman Kovacs and Wilma Nagy, Ethel obtained a degree in Nursing from St. Peter’s University Hospital School of Nursing in 1947.   She had a long and devoted career as a registered nurse in the Labor and Delivery unit at St. Peter’s, doing what she loved best:  helping and caring for others.  She was dedicated to her patients and living her faith as she cared for newborns and their mothers.  Ethel met Ladislaus Gerencser, her beloved husband, when he returned to New Brunswick after serving as an officer in the Navy in WWII.  They married in 1949 and raised their five children.    Ethel loved cooking, especially her ethnic Hungarian dishes, and enjoyed teaching her children her favorite recipes.

Ethel was a devout Catholic with an unwavering strong faith in the Almighty God.  She was a long-time parishioner and a member of the Third Order Franciscans at St. Ladisluas Church, regularly attending daily mass.  Ethel was also a member of the Ladies Sodality of St. Athanasius Church, her parish in Vienna, VA.  She will be forever remembered for her loving smile, kindness, selfless caring for others, and relentless energy and passion for the Lord and life. 

Left to cherish her memory and celebrate her life are her four children:  Christine Crafton, Paul Gerencser, Mark Gerencser, Jean Lewis; nine grandchildren:  Matthew Crafton, Zachary Crafton, Alexandra Crafton, Wade Gerencser, Stefan Gerencser, MJ Gerencser, Christopher Gerencser, Kyle Lewis, and Amy Lewis; as well as five great-grandchildren:  William Crafton, Benjamin Crafton, Charlotte Crafton, Layla Gerencser, Harrison Crafton, and Clara Crafton.  She is predeceased by her husband Ladislaus, son Michael, and brother Victor Kovacs.

A Requiem Mass will be offered at St. Ladislaus Catholic Church, 213 Somerset St, New Brunswick, NJ,  on April 27, 2023, at 10am;  Inurnment will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery in New Brunswick.  Please contact a family member if you would like to join us afterwards for a luncheon reception.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the charity of their choice in the memory of Ethel Gerencser.