William F Ward

Dcn. William F. Ward, 88, of Denville, formerly of Florham Park, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving family, on November 28, 2022. 

Bill was born on June 25, 1934 to his parents; Marge and John Ward.   He was an only child raised in West Orange, NJ with an extended family of many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He attended Our Lady of Lordes School in West Orange followed by St Benedicts HS in Newark.  He attended St Peters College in Jersey City and prepared to become a military officer via the Reserve Officers Training Program (ROTC).  He received a B.S. in Finance in 1956.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 after college.  His life really began on February 16, 1957 when Bill married his wife; Trudy.  Stationed in Japan, Trudy joined Bill for the first two years of their marriage and the birth of their first child; Marybeth.  Upon return from overseas service, they commenced life in Maplewood, NJ.  As the family grew, they moved to Florham Park, NJ.    Bill was honorably discharged from military service as a decorated veteran and reservist with the rank of First Lieutenant.

Bill’s career in banking spanned over three decades.  He worked for Franklin Capital, Chase Manhattan Bank and New Jersey Bank.  He retired in 1999 as the Head Mortgage Officer for Investors Savings Bank.  

In 1989 Bill was ordained a Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church.  He was assigned to his home parish of Holy Family Church where he and Trudy were daily communicants.  As a deacon he was honored to preach, perform baptisms and marriages, and minister to the sick.

Bill and Trudy raised seven children to love God, family and great stories around the dinner table.  A sizable table where everyone present was expected to take their place.   Every meal started with a prayer of thanks.  Bill and Trudy’s children grew and met and married so many wonderful people who would also have a place at the table.

Over the years storms came literally and figuratively.  Some took away a house and some took away beloved family and friends.  But there was always God and family.  And of-course the family grew; sixteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren.   And here we will be, together as always…… in Bill’s place, Dad’s place, Pop-Pop-Pen’s place at the table.  Although it may look empty now, the faith learned from him helps us to know better.

Beloved husband of 65 years to Trudy Ward.  Devoted father of Marybeth Milde, her husband Jim, Bill Ward, his wife Donna, Sharon Ross, her husband Al, Christine Newes, her husband Steven, Maureen Maddison, Regina DeMarco, her husband Paul, John Ward and his wife Kristi.  Cherished grandfather of Matthew, his wife Lauren, Christopher, his wife Jesse, Scott, his wife Christina, Sara and her husband Mike, Shafer and Alison, Nicole and Bryce, Peter, Carolyn and Brian, Caileigh, Kyle and Sydney, Caeli and Serafina.  Proud great-grandfather of Aurora, Bode, Molly and David.  Dear uncle of Donna, Peter, Lauren and Derek.  Also survived by many cousins and friends. 

Bill was pre-deceased by his parents John and Margarete Ward, his step-father William Michaels, his son-in-law Simon Maddison, his nephew Glenn, his sister-in-law Mary Raab and her husband Don. 

Visitation at the Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park on Sunday from 1-4pm.  Funeral on Monday assembling at the funeral home at 9am, followed by the funeral mass at Holy Family Church in Florham Park at 10am.  Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

The Funeral Mass can be viewed virtually by visiting  https://www.holyfamilyfp.org/

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill’s name to your favorite charity.

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