Judith Metzger

Judith (Judy) Mary Marton Metzger joined her loving husband Bob into the Lord’s embrace on November 8, 2025. She was attended by her daughter, son-in-law, granddaughters, and granddaughter’s fiancé. In her last two days, all three of her daughters came together to comfort her with love, prayer, songs, and very special memories. Judith also shared the warm support and presence of her sisters and other extended family during her final months.

Baptized as Judit, she loved her childhood in Bodrogolaszi, Hungary with her parents, sisters, and cousins. Yet when her family was forced to leave after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, she embraced the life of an American teenager, wife, homemaker and mother in Caldwell and later Verona. She was the Head Majorette in the Caldwell Elks marching band and twirled batons expertly for James Caldwell High School, where Bob played the trumpet. She joyfully volunteered at Lanning Avenue Elementary School library and its PTA.

Judy returned to Caldwell College to complete her B.A. in Music Education and joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic enjoying many years of active membership under the tutelage of her Third Order sisters and prominent clergy. Supported by her grandmother and other family members, she later became more involved in the Hungarian community and the Kodaly Korus, ultimately returning to Hungary several times with her own daughters to visit the family left behind decades earlier, and sponsoring cousins for visits to the United States. In her teaching her daughters and grandchildren about her first home and culture, she gave them an indelible appreciation for the meaning of their heritage and freedom.

Judy’s beautiful voice, classically trained, graced services at many local Roman Catholic churches; a time highlighted by her promotion to choir director at Blessed Sacrament and Notre Dame churches. She also shared her substantial musical and teaching talents at many educational forums in the Newark and Wayne public schools, NJ Music Educators Association, and several Hungarian-American clubs and events. Those who grew up with her music and heard it resonate during Masses - especially her impeccable Ave Maria - will be warmed by that memory for years to come.

Judy and Bob enjoyed 54 years of marriage and 20 years of ocean-front dawns and peaceful winters creating a joyful family retreat at their second home on Long Beach Island. Verona and Beach Haven Crest both represented special places in their hearts; raising their daughters in Verona, then welcoming their spouses and children to their homes in both of these wonderful communities.

Judy is survived by daughters Fay (Sean) Smith of Scottsdale Arizona, Kathy (George) Davis of Bloomingdale New Jersey, and Debbie (Jim) Mulvey of Castle Pines Colorado; by her greatest joys, grandchildren Samantha and Christina Davis, James Mulvey, and Hayley Smith, and by her sisters Veronica (Laszlo) Somogyi of Caldwell New Jersey, Liz Klimback of Dallas Texas, and Mary (Bill) Swenson of East Stroudsburg Pennsylvania. She is predeceased by her beloved husband Robert Lake Metzger, parents Joseph Marton and Elizabeth Marton Kundrat, and grandparents Vera and John Matyiku.

A Celebration of Life Mass will be held in her honor on Monday, January 19th, 10:30am, at St. Aloysius Church in Caldwell, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, Development Office, 1 Ryerson Ave., Caldwell, NJ 07006.