James F. Goodness

James F. Goodness of Edison, NJ, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 19, 2018 at JFK Haven Hospice in Edison, New Jersey. He was 90 years old. Born in Brooklyn, NY on February 8, 1928 he enlisted in the US Navy in 1945 and served in the Submarine Service in the Pacific as a cook until 1949.

After his enlistment, Jim attended cooking school on the GI bill and worked in the food industry as a baker and a cook. In 1950, Jim met his first wife, Margaret Shannon, and they married in 1952. Together they had three children –James G., Raymond, and Maureen and continued to live in Brooklyn.

He changed careers in early 1953 and worked in the trucking industry for various companies in the New York area until the early 1990s.

Several years after Margaret passed away in 1983, he began dating Roseanne Kerrigan, a widow, and they married in August 1990. Jim retired from the trucking industry and worked for a few years part-time with the NY City Board of Education. Jim and Roseanne moved to Edison in 1993. Jim got involved in volunteer work at JFK Medical Center as a clown and also served for many years as president of the Edison Seniors’ organization.

In 2013 because of failing health, Jim became a resident of the NJ Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park.

His wife, Roseanne Kerrigan Goodness, survives him. Also surviving are: son James G. Goodness and wife, Felicia; son Raymond F. Goodness and wife, Frances; daughter Maureen D’Urso and husband Christian; stepdaughter Beth Lenti and husband, Thomas; stepson Michael Kerrigan; stepdaughter Kathleen Divers, stepdaughter Patricia Kerrigan; grandchildren and step-grandchildren Richard Goodness; Christian D’Urso, Francis D’Urso, Zachary D’Urso, Benjamin Goodness, Ethan Goodness, Mary Beth Lenti, Patrick Lenti, Kevin Lenti, and Kelly Kerrigan.

Our husband, father and grandfather will be greatly missed.

Visitation Monday, 7/23/2018  2-4 and 7-9 at Gosselin Funeral Home, 660 New Dover Road, Edison.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 AM. Tuesday, 7/24/2018  at St. Matthew the Apostle Church, 81 Seymour Avenue, Edison. Interment will follow at St. Gertrude’s Cemetery and Mausoleum, 53 Inman Avenue, Colonia.

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