Agnes B. Cordes

Agnes B. CordesAGE: 85 • AvonAgnes B. Cordes, 85, died Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, at her daughter's home in Avon, surrounded by her family. Agnes had lived more than 60 years at her home in Wall, and raised her family there, prior to moving to Avon in 2012 after a recurrence of lung cancer. Born in Kearny, Agnes grew up in North Arlington and attended Queen of Peace High School there. Her parents, Patrick and Bridget Lowe, were immigrants from Ireland. She was the youngest of four children. Her siblings, James Lowe, Margaret Granholm, and Francis Lowe, have all died.Agnes attended Katharine Gibbs school in New York City, and later worked for a short time as a secretary in Manhattan, before marrying John F. Cordes (Jack) in 1948. They soon moved to the Jersey Shore and bought a home in Wall in 1950. In the 1950s and 1960s, Agnes raised four children. As her children grew up, Agnes began to work outside the home, at first part-time and eventually full-time, for the Danskin Agency, an insurance and real estate firm in Wall. She performed secretarial duties for Danskin and also helped manage the office. Agnes worked for Danskin for more than three decades, continuing on a part-time basis into her seventies.Agnes is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Jack, and by her children, John Jr. (Rick) (Rosemarie), Francine Reynolds (Eugene), Blane (Joan), and Robert (Maria Leo). Agnes had nine grandchildren whom she adored, Michaila Lee, Eugene, Patrick, and John Reynolds, Tracy Francescone, Patricia McClain, James Cordes, Courtney Liska, and Blane Cordes, Jr. In recent years, she also was able to enjoy four young great-grandchildren.Agnes was an active parishioner at St. Denis Catholic Church in Manasquan for many years. Three of her children attended school there. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Denis on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 11 a.m. Following the Mass, Agnes's husband and children will host a luncheon to celebrate her life. The luncheon will be at the Mill Restaurant, 101 Old Mill Rd. (Ocean Rd.), Spring Lake Heights, NJ 07762. All who knew Agnes are welcome. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Agnes's name to the Wall Township Public Library, 2700 Allaire Road, Wall Township, NJ 07719. The Wall library's book collection and its friendly and helpful staff provided Agnes many hours of pleasure over the years.