Wilma J. Pierson

Wilma Jean (Dunning) Pierson, age 78, of Raritan Township, NJ, died Friday, March 26, 2021, after a brave battle with multiple myeloma.

Born in Paterson, NJ, Wilma was the daughter of the late John Schagen and Jeanette Kendall Dunning. She had formerly resided in Totowa, Montclair, Edison, and Somerset before settling in Raritan Township, NJ with her daughter and family.

She is survived by her son, Richard Burman and his wife Sue; her daughter Lynn Vuolde, and her husband Georgio; six grandchildren: Nick, Mia, Avery and Sophia Vuolde, Matthew and Ali Burman; as well as her brother, John “Jack” Dunning and his wife Rosemary, her sister Marilyn Dunning and her husband Alan Jacobson; and several nieces and great-nephews.

A January 1959 graduate of Paterson Eastside High School, Wilma attended Bloomfield College where she was a cheerleader. She worked for Chemical Bank/PNC Bank for twenty-five years. She was the church organist at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in Paterson, NJ and chaired Christian education and workshop committees for Totowa, Montclair, and Edison Methodist Churches.

Wilma enjoyed gardening, planting flowers, and taking care of her koi pond. She was a passionate fan of her favorite golfers and NFL players. Wilma enjoyed taking road trips, exploring without maps, and chasing hot air balloons whenever they were flying overhead. She was especially fond of her grandchildren. “Gram” was always a fixture in the stands, supporting them in sports and other activities and creating Easter egg hunts for them on the back lawn. She will also be remembered for her handmade ribbon crosses and loved giving them to friends, family and strangers.

Cremation services are being handled by Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. A memorial service will be held at a later date and time. For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.

Memorial contributions in Wilma’s name may be made to Safe Harbor Child Access Centers, 171 Main St, Flemington, NJ 08822; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, 9100 Wescott Drive, Suite 202, Flemington, New Jersey 08822.