Obituary of James W. Pierson

The great storyteller is now entertaining all of heaven. On Saturday, December 17, 2011, James W. Pierson of Bridgewater formerly of South Orange went to be with his risen Savior. Beloved husband of the late Joan Rustia Pierson and Madelaine Conlan Pierson. Devoted father of Mary Surkein and her husband Michael, Barbara Schaedel and her husband Phil, Joan Weisi and her husband Ahmed, Maggie Carlson and her husband Bill, Erin Aboff and her husband Ross, Maureen Muldoon and her husband Will Schaub, James Pierson Jr. and his wife Simone, and Andrew Pierson and his wife Kim. Dear brother of Brendon Pierson and his wife Geri, and the late Caroline Pierson. Also survived by his very cherished twenty- eight grandchildren whom ranged in numbers from 101 to 804. He was a beloved Uncle and Irish Godfather to many. Jim greatly loved God and his family. He treasured his Catholic faith and was a defender of the unborn. He was so proud of his country and served in the Navy from 1951-1955 aboard the USS WASP during the Korean War. He never met a stranger and was generous to all. Anyone who met him will never forget his humor, magical stories and spontaneous exuberant singing. He was truly one of a kind. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Our Lady Of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect St., South Orange on Friday, December 23rd at 09:30 AM. Interment Gate Of Heaven Cemetery, E. Hanover. Visitation will be held at Preston Funeral Home, 153 South Orange Ave., South Orange on Wednesday, 7- 9 PM and Thursday, 2-4 & 7-9 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Madelaine Conlan Pierson Scholarship Fund to benefit a student at Our Lady of Sorrows. If it is your wish, please send the donation to Our Lady of Sorrows with James Pierson's name in the memo section. For more information or to send condolences please visit prestonfuneralhome.net A rambler and a gambler, but no longer far from home.