Laura Anez, age 66, of Little Silver, passed away Dec. 1, 2023.
Laura came to this country in 1980. Initially, she worked in factories but one day by chance she noticed an advertisement for Middlesex County Community College’s nursing program. With a Polish-American dictionary in one hand and a textbook in the other, she completed the program successfully and went on to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.
To further her career, she attended Brookdale Community College where she studied nursing and achieved an associate degree, enabling her to take the exam to become a Registered Nurse, all while working full-time.
Shortly thereafter, she was hired at Riverview Medical Center (now Hackensack Meridian) in Red Bank. At Hackensack Meridian, she eventually became a Certified Critical Care Nurse and later worked in Surgical Day Stay.
Nov. 30 marked the 36th anniversary of her career at Hackensack Meridian.
Laura pursued many hobbies, among them skiing, golfing, working in the yard, and taking walks along the boardwalk in Long Branch. She remained in constant contact with her family in Poland. While working at Riverview, she made many friends whose support and love sustained her during her fatal illness.
Laura had a love of life and a strong faith. She attended church with very few absences over the years. She loved her friends, her work and her patients. At the end of the day when she would come into the house on Maple Avenue, she always came home with a smile.
Laura is survived by her loving husband Bruce; her sister-in-law Phyllis Anez (Danny); niece Susan; brother-in-law Richard Anez; and her relatives in Poland: sister Mary (George), brother Joseph (Barbara), aunt Sofia Wolny, cousin Liz Butewicz (Joe) and their children Stacey, Joe and Amy, niece Anna (Shemek) and their two daughters, and nephew Adam and his son.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 7 at St. James Church, 94 Broad St., Red Bank. Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank has been entrusted with the arrangements.
This article originally appeared in the December 14 – 20, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
