Charlotte Mary Lavery passed away peacefully on August 28, 2026. Born August 17, 1929, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, she was a lifelong “Jersey Girl”. She grew up in Bloomfield where she graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1947. After High School she attended the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts where she excelled. Her charcoal portraits still amaze anyone who has seen them. During this time period, she met the love of her life, Edward and they began a long and adventurous life together. They moved out of their apartment in Newark and bought property in Schooley’s Mountain. With love and determination, they built their house and raised their four children. The family spent their summers at the Jersey Shore.

In the late 1960’s, Charlotte decided to embark on a whole new career as a substitute teacher in the Washington Township school system, a position she held for several decades. She specialized in long term assignments and treated each one as if she was their regular teacher, not just the substitute. She was known for her ability to mix the right amount of discipline and compassion and to this day former students remember her as one of the best teachers they ever had.

She was a skilled seamstress and would always make sure her children were dressed neatly for Sunday Mass at Our Lady of the Mountain Church, where she was a member of the Rosary Society. Her art overflowed in her many hobbies: doll making, beading, designing household furnishings, and decorating cakes for special family occasions. She also loved to travel – whether with her husband to Bermuda, California and Hawaii, with extended family to visit relatives in Italy, or with her school colleagues to discover England and Russia (as a few examples)! She loved meeting new people and learning about new places.

Charlotte’s home was one filled with love and good food! Even early on, with limited means, there was always room at the table for another late-minute guest or a spare bed for our friends. She loved to sit on the deck by the pool or behind her house and enjoy the view. Even into her later years, she would remark how lucky she and Dad were to have settled on such a beautiful piece of property.

She was especially proud of her very large family – her children – Charlotte Richardson, Edward Lavery (wife, MaryEllen), Sean Lavery, and Megan Smith (partner, Derek Taylor); her grandchildren – Jackie Sobotka (husband, Mike), Jim Richardson, Patrick Lavery (wife, Kristen), Martha Lavery, Bryan Lavery (wife, Marika), Mike Lavery (wife, Roberta), Daniel Lavery, Ben Smith (wife, Liz), Maggie Smith (partner, Bin Xiao), Ian Smith and Sam Smith, and her great grandchildren – Faith, Shelby, Cara, Margaux, Nora, Stella, Cooper, Cora, Delaney, Teagan, Arthur and Nico. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, all of whom she kept near and dear to her heart.

Charlotte was predeceased by her parents, William and Kasimira (Charlotte) Mercurio, her beloved husband of 46 years, Edward Lavery, her sisters Mary Ann Kenny and Billie Carol Moraveck, and her son-in-law, Scott Smith.

A celebration of life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Long Valley First Aid Squad.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High St., Hackettstown, N.J. 07840 . Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.cochranfuneral.com .