Daughter of the late John J. and Marie (Glasheen) O’Gara, Mary Ellen was a graduate of the Down Town St. Joseph’s Commercial RC High School Brooklyn, NY class of 1962. She was also a graduate of the St. John’s University New York. Mary Ellen had worked as a Teacher for the Jefferson Twp. Public School system for twenty eight years before her retirement. Following her retirement she was working as a supervisor for a group home in Oak Ridge, NJ under the Department for Persons with Disabilities through the Catholic Archdiocese of Paterson, NJ for the past twelve years.

Mrs. Hokenberg was a member of the NJEA and the NEA, she had served on the Jefferson Twp. PTA as well as a Jefferson Twp. Girl Scouts Troop leader for many years. The thing that gave her the most joy in life was spending time with her cherished grandchildren and loving family.

Pre deceased by a brother Michael O’Gara, Mary Ellen is survived by her beloved husband Eric D., her sons Eric J. and his wife Linda of Jefferson Twp., and Michael J. and his wife Katelyn of Cary, NC; her daughters Karen M. and her husband Thomas Miller of Jefferson Twp., and Kristina A. Hokenberg of Singapore. Also surviving are her grandchildren Ashley M., Thomas E., and Shane R., Miller, Bridget A., Eric R. Amelia J. and Jameson M. Hokenberg as well as her sister Joann Dempsey of Staten Isl., NY.

Visitation will be held Friday August 7th, 2015 from 3-5 and 7-8:30 PM with funeral services at 8:30 PM in the Smith-Taylor-Ruggiero Funeral Home, One Baker (Rt. 46) Dover, NJ. Graveside services Saturday Aug. 8th at 11:00 AM in the Holy Cross RC Cemetery Brooklyn, NY. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Department for Persons with Disabilities www.dpd.org