Roxbury Township.  JACQUELINE GWEN EHRGOTT (“Jackie” or “Jack”), age 66, left our family on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.  She was born in Dover and grew up in a large, loving family in Succasunna.  Her late, devoted parents were Ruby and Don Ehrgott.

In her early years, Jackie attended a secretarial school and a cosmetology school when she resided in Vermont.  She also worked as a nurse’s aide years ago at Merry Heart Nursing Home and at Welkind Rehabilitation Center. She was proud of her jobs working with elderly people.

Jackie had a BIG heart, and gave BIG hugs. Jackie was smart, kind, funny, and generous.  She remembered all her siblings’ birthdays every year and sent them cards, often weeks prior to the date; it was one of Jackie’s endearing qualities.  Jackie faced many challenges during her lifetime, and she persevered through all of them.  She was a strong, tough woman.

Jackie especially enjoyed being around her family and all the many friends she made throughout her lifetime.  She loved listening to music and singing Karaoke, and enjoyed reading.  Jack wrote heartfelt letters, notes, and cards to people.  She was a self-described “phone-a-holic” – Jackie LOVED calling people at all times, both day and night! She liked going places and hanging out with her late friend Jeffrey Vage – they were good buddies for over 25 years.

She spent her last few months at Morris View Healthcare Center, Morristown.  Jackie was diagnosed with colon cancer and fought it for over two years.  She was SO strong, and SO brave.  She never gave up until she grew too weak.  Yet she still knew and spoke to her family, both in person and on the phone (of course!) until she left us.

We were all blessed with Jackie’s love and spirited presence in our lives, and she provided us with many funny stories to remember and share. We were all very lucky to know and love her.

Jack was always fortunate to have kind, dedicated people in her midst who took excellent care of her.  A few of the organizations that cared for her were Mental Health Association (formerly MHA of Essex & Morris), Community Hope, New Bridge Services, and SERV Behavioral Health System.  Jackie’s family would like to express their deep and abiding appreciation for the people who work for these organizations. We know that Jackie would also want us to thank Pastor Donald Kirschner of the Boonton United Methodist Church, who served as a calming, steady presence in Jack’s life.

Jackie is survived by her loving and loved birth daughter, the light of her life, Aileen Barry, and her husband Scott Barry and their three sons, Dean, Owen, and Evan; her brother Glenn Ehrgott and wife Claudia, her nieces Kristin and Danielle, and great nephews Jaxon and Lucas; her sister Wendy Pett and husband Bob, and her nephew David and his wife Tina; her brother Wayne Ehrgott and wife Debbie, her niece Nicole and husband Adam Haslett, and great nephews Harrison and Hudson; and her nephew Donald Ehrgott.  Also surviving Jackie is her Big Sister, Cheryl Ehrgott, who honored her promise to their amazing Mom Ruby and became Jackie’s primary family caregiver for over 19 years.  Cheryl did her best to advocate for Jack, be there for her when needed, keep her safe, and love her.  Families make the best, caring advocates.

Arrangements are by the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main St., Succasunna (973-584-7264). She will be buried at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Chester, NJ.  A private service will be held with her family at the cemetery. Future plans include a Celebration of Life for Jackie in March around her birthday.