Obituary of John Joseph Gillen

John Joseph Gillen, age 73, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at his home in Warren. He was born in Elizabeth and had lived in Roselle Park before moving to Warren in 1969. He attended St. Benedict's Prep School in Newark and received his Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from NJIT while working full time. Mr. Gillen was a licensed professional engineer in the states of NJ and NY. He worked as a Mechanical Engineer for Procter & Gamble in Staten Island for forty years and prior to his retirement in March of 1997, he was the Plant Safety Manager for J. T. Baker in Phillipsburg. Mr. Gillen was a part time resident of Dillon, CO where he loved to ski and spend time with his beloved family. He had a passion for fine woodworking and ice skating. In his youth, along with his brother, Denis, he owned and operated a drag racing team. He and his wife, Connie, loved horseback riding at the Watchung Stables. Later in life, they enjoyed traveling the globe together. Mr. Gillen was a communicant of Our Lady of the Mount Church in Warren. He is predeceased by his mother, Mary Doherty Gillen Barbieri, his father, Hugh Gillen and his brother, Denis Gillen. Mr. Gillen is survived by his wife of 51 years, Constance Kachurak Gillen; his son, John Joseph Gillen II and his wife, Liz of Littleton, CO; his daughter, Allison Gillen of Jackson Hole, WY; his grandson, Jack Joseph Gillen and his aunt, Sister Margaret Doherty of Sisters of Charity, Convent Station, NJ. Funeral services will begin on Monday, February 21st at 10:00 a.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung followed by an 11:00 a.m. Mass of Resurrection at Our Lady of the Mount Chapel. Visitation will be on Sunday, February 20th from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Charity, PO Box 476, Convent Station, NJ 07961-0476.