Plan for the Future
Beatrice Hoffman (nee Pacio) of Millburn Township passed away on June 6th in Autumn Lake Healthcare- Berkeley Heights.
Along with two brothers, “Bea” was born in Jersey City to parents Joseph and Maria who immigrated from Pescopagano, Italy. She resided in Millburn for almost 90 years. Bea would have celebrated her 95th birthday on August 5th.
Bea attended township public schools and graduated high school in 1940. She was an enthusiastic member of the Hi Tri Music Group, was on the editorial staff of the Millwheel, and was known as a talented athlete. Her competitive sports were basketball, where she was team captain, soccer and field hockey. The later twice earned her the All State Field Hockey Award and offer of a scholarship to Panzer College in East Orange, which later merged with Montclair State. In 2012, Bea was inducted into the Millburn Hall of Fame to recognize her accomplishments as a student athlete. She retained and treasured her high school hockey stick which her children consider an heirloom.
After high school, Bea worked for Bell Telephone. In addition to raising four children and her involvement with the schools, Bea baby sat for township families for 25 years. She had many life-long friends.
Bea adored Millburn and recalled a slower, quieter life with more open space, trolley cars and swimming in the Taylor Park pond. Bea was known as the Washington district historian. Since the 1950s, she photographed area houses and buildings before their demolition and shared the photos with the Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society.
Surviving are sons Robert of Easton Pennsylvania, William of Tewksbury Township, and daughter Laura of Saint Augustine, Florida. She also leaves daughter-in-law Kathy O’Malley Hoffman and sons-in-law, Dan Bournique and Frank Cosentino. Bea had two grandchildren, Dan and Billy, and one great-grandson, Ryan Anthony. Her daughter, Jean Cosentino, of Long Hill Township predeceased her in 2013, as did Robert, her husband of almost 60 years, in 2004.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, June 11, 2017 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Bradley, Smith & Smith Funeral Home, 415 Morris Avenue, Springfield, NJ 07081. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 12, 2017 at St. Rose of Lima Church, 50 Short Hills Avenue, Short Hills, NJ. Interment will follow in the Parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Dominican Nuns Building Fund, 543 Springfield Ave., Summit, NJ 07901.