Jean Ruth Mazurek (nee Lemakos) of Ringwood, NJ passed away suddenly on Saturday, December 10.
Jean was born on October 31, 1960 to Ruth and Eugene Lemakos in New York City. When she was five the family moved to Bogota, New Jersey where she grew up and made many life-long friends, graduating Bogota High School in 1979.
She married Daniel Mazurek, Sr. on March 6, 1993 and they settled in Ringwood. Prior to her retirement she worked at Cedar Crest Senior Living Community in Pompton Plains and kept active after retirement volunteering at Garden State Barkway in Ringwood.
Jean loved to be outdoors and had a penchant for nature photography often sitting on her deck taking pictures of the wildlife in the area. She was also a staple on the sidelines at her grandson’s lacrosse matches with her camera in hand.
Jean’s biggest passion in life was her family. She rarely missed any sporting event, competition or performance her grandchildren were involved in. She will be missed dearly by granddaughters Faith Reilly and Brenna Reilly and grandsons Daniel Mazurek III and girlfriend Shannon McGowan, Jack Mazurek and Nate Mazurek.
She is survived by husband Dan, son Daniel Mazurek, Jr. and ex-wife Ann, and daughter Janice (Mazurek) Pruiksma and her husband Scott Pruiksma. She leaves behind three brothers, Bill Lemakos of Treadwell, NY; Jim Lemakos and wife Renee of Delray Beach, Fl and Bob Lemakos and his partner Troy of Inver Grove Heights, MN as well as two nephews Matthew Lemakos and Peter Lemakos and several cousins. She also leaves behind her rescue dog Buddy.
She is predeceased by her parents and cousins Deryll Newman and Britta Newman Ganni.
Visiting hours will be held from 3 to 7pm Tuesday, December 13 with final prayers said at 5pm by Pastor Phil Tyler at the M. John Scanlan Funeral Home, Pompton Plains.
As a recipient of a liver transplant over a decade ago, Jean had always requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made in her name to NJ Sharing Network – a local organization for organ donation located in New Providence, NJ.