Obituary of Della A. Dettling

Della A. Dettling, 79, of Howell Township passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 6, 2022 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township.  Della was born and raised in Queens, NY and was a graduate of St. Joseph High School, Brooklyn.  After beginning a career at AT&T she then moved to Jackson, NJ in 1968 to start her family. From there she then moved to Howell Township in 1982.  Della was a graduate of Ocean County College graduating Cum Laude.  Della then went on to work with Bob McGirr at Clayton Funeral Home (now Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home) as one of the first employees in 1985.  She was an intricate member of the team that formed the business that it is today.  In 1994, Della retired to become a fulltime “Nana” for her wonderful grandchildren.  Della enjoyed traveling with her loving husband and spending time reading as well as working on her crafts.

A true woman of faith, she was a devout catholic.  Della was an Apostle of the Sisters of the Resurrection.  As a parishioner of the Church of St. Veronica in Howell, Della lead many  1^st at the church, such as, the 1^st President of the Knights of Columbus Lady Auxiliary and led the 1^st Blood Drive which she continued to run for 10 years.  She was a former Eucharistic Minister, past President of the Rosery Alter Society, and was an active member of both the Bereavement and Vincentian Committee.  Della’s love for crafts and sewing brought her skills to a higher level in the 1970’s by making the curtains for every school classroom as well as convent window.  In addition, she was instrumental in the creation of hundreds of lovingly handcrafted Baptismal bibs.  She will also be remembered for being a member of the alter cleaning committee as well as cleaning and mending the alter linens that the priests used during mass.  At St. Veronica’s School, Della volunteered in the cafeteria as well as PTA while her three children attended school there.  To say she was a consummate parishioner at the church was an understatement, she was always at fundraising events and functions.  Her faith drove her life.  Yet family was everything to her, she was a loving wife, a caring mom, and an adoring Nana. 

Della is survived by her husband of 57 years, Joseph C. Dettling; three children, Julie V. Russo and her husband, Ralph of Freehold, Lynne Vreeland and her husband, Michael of Stirling, and David J. Dettling and his wife, Viviana of Freehold; seven grandchildren, Thomas Russo, Katharine Russo, Joseph Russo, David Vreeland, Kathleen Vreeland, Elizabeth Vreeland, and Brendan Dettling; three brothers, Phelan J. Brady and his wife, Pat of Jackson, Peter D. Brady and his wife, Janet of Malverne, NY and James R. Brady, and his wife, Pia of Jackson; and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Monday, February 14, 2022 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.  Relatives and friends are invited to gather at 8:30 AM at the funeral home on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 for the procession to her 9:30 AM Funeral Mass at the Church of St. Veronica, 4215 Route 9 North, Howell, NJ 07731.  For those who cannot attend mass in person, you may participate via the church’s website HERE.  Interment will follow in St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold.  For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Special Projects Fund for the benefit of St. Veronica Parish by mail or HERE.  For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.