Thomas P. Beirne

Wharton:  Deacon Thomas P. Beirne passed away after a short illness at St. Clare’s Hospital/Dover General on Saturday, September 23, 2023.  He was 82 years of age.

Tom was born in Orange and was raised in East Orange.  He attended Holy Name School, East Orange and graduated from Orange High School.  Tom later received his Bachelors from Thomas Edison University, Trenton, NJ.  He also received his Certificate of Church Management from Seton Hall University.

Mr. Beirne worked first in Finance/Municipal Bonds for years before taking the Church Administrator position at Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral Episcopal Church, Newark, retiring in 2013.  He later worked for Morris County Office on the Aging/Nutrition Program, retiring again in 2017.

Deacon Beirne was a longtime parishioner of St. Mary’s Church, Dover and has been a Deacon for 20 years.  Tom was heavily involved in Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry and recently the Bereavement Ministry.  He was an Adult Team Leader of the  Antioch Youth Retreat Ministry from 1986 to 2005, as well.  Thomas was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council #514 of St. Mary’s Church.

Tom was a founding member of the Irish American Association of Northern New Jersey.  He had served on the Executive Board for a number of years and is a past-president. Being on the Wharton town council, he was instrumental in getting the 1st Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade up and running.

He was honored as Grand Marshall for the West Orange St. Patrick’s Parade in 1987.

He belonged to William J. Hocking, American Legion Post 91 of Wharton after serving in the National Guard during the Vietnam War.

Tom was very active in the Borough of Wharton.  He was a councilman for 7 years before being elected as a two term Mayor from 1983 to 1991.   Tom was still an active member of the Wharton Fire Department Independent Hook and Ladder Co#1 as well as a NJ Exempt Fireman.

He is predeceased by his parents, Patrick J. Beirne and Mary Aroneo Beirne and his sister, Patti-Sue Beirne Rolak.

Tom is survived by:

His wife of 42 years, Kristine (née Bendsen) with whom he shared many ministry responsibilities.

Six Children:

Christine A. DeCamp and husband Dave of Toms River.

John D. Butler and wife Andrea of Franklin, TN.

Kelly Hayward and husband Brian of Green Brook, NJ.

Michael T. Beirne of Grafton, OH.

Sara Butler Zalesky and husband Eric of Downingtown, PA.

David Butler and wife Lauren of Montclair, NJ.

Eight Grandchildren:

Robbie, Vinny, Eliana, Kylie, Brian, Michele, Nicole and Quinten.

Two Great Granddaughters:

Violet & Addison.

His Brother in Law John Rolak and nieces Amy Rolak Kupch and husband Jason; Colleen Rolak Tampier  and husband Colby,  and nephew John Patrick Rolak and wife Shannon along with  grandnephews PJ Kupcha and  Tyler Rolak and grandnieces Maddie Kupcha, Chole Tampier, Cassie Tampier, Samantha Rolak, Kelly Rolak.

His  Brother in law Carl Bendsen and nieces Patti Bendsen Suarez and husband David; Sharon Bendsen; Kat Bendsen Randle and grandnephews Cavan Finnegan Bendsen, Tyler Bendsen Torode and grandniece Amber Randle.

Aunt Connie Aroneo and his many Aroneo Cousins and Beirne Cousins in the US and Ireland.

In lieu of flowers consider a donation to St. Mary’s Church.

Visitation will be held 4-8pm on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at St. Mary’s Church, (For GPS Only) 371 South Main Street, Wharton, NJ 07885.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10am on Wednesday, September 27, at St. Mary’s Church.

Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hurd Street, Mine Hill.

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