Bettie Jean Richert Monaghan

Bettie J. (Richert) Monaghan, 89, of Rahway, NJ, passed away at JFK University Medical Center in Edison, NJ the evening of Wednesday, February 25th, leaving a void her family cannot fill.

Bettie was born in New Bern, NC in 1936 to Gladys (Lupton) and Hugo Richert, where she lived until the age of three when her parents moved their small family to Jersey City, NJ. In 1954 the family moved to Iselin, NJ where she met the love of her life, Joseph D. Monaghan, Jr. They married after dating just six months, settling in Iselin, where they raised their family of four children. Over the years she worked for AT&T, The Cittone School and Bell Labs. In 1990 Bettie and Joe retired to New Bern, NC where she resided until 2020 when she moved in with her daughter Theresa in Hemlock Farms, PA. In 2023 she moved once again, this time she moved in with her daughter Catherine in Rahway, NJ.

While she was able, she was active with the American Cancer Society and enjoyed participating in the annual Relay for Life in New Bern, NC where she also volunteered for the Senior Pharmacy Program.

She was a devoted mother to Catherine, Michael, Theresa and Alicia, her pride and joy. She always said their birth changed her life for the better, and they felt that in the love and support she provided.

Bettie was preceded in death by her husband Joe, her parents Gladys and Hugo, and her brother Charles, as well as her favorite cousin and lifelong friend, Shirley Edwards. She is survived by her children Catherine (Bruce Halley); Michael (Thom Schoepfer); Theresa (Alfred Muglia); and Alicia (Patrick French). She is also survived by her sisters Valerie Hassell and Carol Bennett, and her brother Jeffrey (Rita) Richert, her best friend since Kindergarten, Carolyn Misiewicz, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.

In New Jersey: There will be a viewing at Pettit-Davis Funeral Home, 371 West Milton Ave., Rahway, NJ, 07065 on Monday, March 2, 2026 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

In North Carolina: There will be a viewing at Bennett Funeral & Cremation Care, 3310 Trent Rd., New Bern, NC 28562 on Thursday, March 5, 2026 from 12:00 to 1:45 p.m. Interment will be afterwards at 2:00 p.m. at New Bern Memorial Cemetery, 1112 Chelsea Rd., New Bern, NC 28562.

Donations to the American Cancer Society in her name are appreciated.

Bennett Funeral & Cremation Care is honored to serve the family and friends of Bettie J. Monaghan.