Obituary of Maurice F. Reilley

Maurice F. "Butch" Reilley, age 86, died on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. He was born and raised in Plainfield and had lived in North Plainfield for 17 years before moving to Lebanon in 1998. He graduated from St. Mary's Grammar School in 1938 and from Plainfield High School in 1942. Mr. Reilley volunteered for the United States Navy in December 1942 and served until 1946. He served on the sub-chasers #1074 and #1350. He received the Atlantic and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters Ribbons, the Good Conduct Medal and Victory Ribbon. He obtained the rank of Boatswains Mate 2C. After his military service, he worked for NJ Bell Telephone where he was a lineman for two years before joining the Plainfield Fire Dept. in 1948. After climbing the ranks in the Fire Dept., he retired in 1979 as the Chief. During his time with the fire department and into his retirement, he was very active in many areas of Fire Service Training. He taught at County and State Fire Schools. After his retirement in 1979, he devoted twenty-five years as a courier with the Sisters of Mercy at Mount St. Mary's in Watchung, NJ. Mr. Reilley was a Communicant of St. Mary's Church in Plainfield until 1998 when he joined Immaculate Conception Church in Annandale after moving to Lebanon. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus - Council 552, the South Plainfield VFW, FMBA #7, I.A.F.C., and the NJ Fire Chiefs. He was active in sports with the Plainfield Celtics and the Green Brook Athletic Club. He enjoyed baseball and basketball for many years was still active in bowling and golf. Mr. Reilley is predeceased by his first wife, Marjorie Schaefer Reilley in 1978; his brothers, John, Joseph, James and his sister, Elizabeth Haggerty. He is survived by his wife, Jean O'Keeffe Hogan Reilley; his daughters, Maureen Reilley Tucker of North Plainfield and Mary Reilley Clark and her husband, Kevin of Carlsbad, CA; his stepsons, Mark J. Hogan and his wife, Vatsala of Ronkonkoma, NY, Michael J. Hogan and his wife Ann of Manalapan, NJ, Martin J. Hogan and his wife, Lisa of Warren, NJ and Brian P. Hogan and his wife, Terry of Moorestown, NJ; his stepdaughter, Carol Hogan Ullom and her husband, Kurt of South Plainfield, NJ; his grandchildren, Patrick Tucker, Cari Clark, Keith, Jamie, Jessie, Jennifer, Kaitlyn, Kirsten, Kyle and Ryan Hogan and Brandon Ullom. He is also, survived by his sister, Sister Catherine Maurice Reilley, Sisters of Charity, Convent Station, NJ; his brother, Laurence Reilley of Thousand Oaks, CA and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will begin on Tuesday, June 1st at 9:00 a.m.at Higgins Home for Funerals, 209 West 8th St., Plainfield followed by an 10:00 a.m. funeral mass at St. Mary's Church in Plainfield. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery. Visitation is on Monday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Cancer Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia ( www.giftofchildhood.com) or to the charity of your choice.