Obituary of Alma C Buckingham

Alma C. (Fingler) Buckingham, 81, of Maplewood, N.J., passed away on Feb. 21, 2016. Born in Newark, N.J., she had lived in Maplewood for 51 years. A smart and inquisitive child, Alma graduated a year ahead of time in 1952 from West Side High School in Newark. Prior to marrying and starting a family, she had a varied career starting in high school where she worked as an assistant in the pathology lab at Irvington General Hospital. She went on to graduate from Barbizon Modeling School and then joined the advertising team of the renowned manufacturer of apparel fabrics and home fashion, Dan River Mills, in their New York City office. While raising her family, Alma was a very active volunteer with St. Joseph's Church and Grammar School, serving in many roles, ranging from publicity for church and school events to gym teacher. She also served on several committees with the Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops that her children were members of. Alma was the devoted wife of Gerald L. Buckingham; beloved mother of Kathleen Richard-May, Gerald W. Buckingham, Martin R. Buckingham, and Caroline S. Buckingham; loving grandmother of Lisa Buckingham and Kara Puglio, and dear sister of the late Carl Fingler. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society , 14 Commerce Drive, Suite 30, Cranford, N.J. 07016 (www.LLS.org) would be appreciated.