Betty Lou Hughes

Betty Lou (Lovelady) Hughes, 94, of Flemington, NJ, passed away on Saturday, August 3, 2024.

Betty was a strong, resilient woman born during The Great Depression, on December 23, 1929, in Wooster, Arkansas. She was the youngest of eight children. The daughter of a sharecropper, she often worked the fields picking cotton and spoke fondly of her happy childhood as the youngest. She was an All-State basketball player in high school, a product of her determination, drive, and grit, which remained intact throughout her life.

She met her husband, James, when he was serving in the Army with her older brother. In the early years of their marriage, they lived in Fort Monmouth, NJ where James was stationed until they eventually settled down in Paterson, NJ, raised six children and founded Hughes-DeLuccia Electric Service.

In retirement, Betty and James moved to Beebe, Arkansas where she was very active in the Presbyterian Church organizing many food drives for her community. After James passed, Betty moved back to NJ to Raritan Township where she became very involved with her grandchildren. An avid reader, she enjoyed discussing what she was reading with them as she was driving them to activities. She took pride in cooking and enjoyed making her Grandchildren smile with all her best dishes. Betty was a gifted seamstress, knitter, and quilter; many having been fortunate enough to be gifted her creations whether it be clothing, a beautiful quilt or perfectly crocheted blanket.

Betty remained an active member of Flemington Presbyterian Church until recent years. Always a dog lover, Betty cared for many dogs throughout her life, including her best friend, Penny, her 16-year-old Shih Tzu. Betty’s sense of humor caught many by surprise through her nineties; she remembered every detail of life and never lost her strength of mind.

Betty is predeceased by her husband, James Hughes; daughter, Betty Lou (Hughes) Storti; granddaughter Tara Hughes; and son, James Hughes. She is survived by her sons, Richard (Lorraine) and Patrick; her daughters, Colleen Lembo (Joseph) and Pamela Faranick (Bruce), 17 Grandchildren, 32 Great-Grandchildren, and 2 Great-Great grandchildren.

A visitation will take place on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 PM in the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Funeral services, officiated by Rev. Amy Lincoln, will take place the next morning at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, also in the funeral home. Interment, with her late husband, will follow in Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa, NJ.

Betty absolutely LOVED flowers, and they are more than welcome, but folks are also encouraged to make memorial contributions in her memory to the Flemington Presbyterian Church, 10 East Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit her Tribute Wall

at www.holcombefisher.com.