Jean Theresa Zales

Jean Theresa (Mottese) Zales, of Spring Lake and Hobe Sound, Florida, passed away peacefully in Brielle at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Janine and Chris Martin, on May 24, 2021 after a courageous seven-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Jean was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, Vincent Robert Zales Sr. after which she resided in her dollhouse cottage in Spring Lake, keeping a watchful eye over her ever-expanding family. Her passion was her commitment to her five children, Vincent Jr. and his wife Jean, Mark and his wife Donna, Diane and her husband John Lichtenberg, Janine and her husband Christopher Martin, David and his wife Patty and her daughter-in-law Mary Sheid Zales. Her 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. She pledged unconditional love to all and always finished goodbyes of “I love you Nan” with “I love you more!” Her gentle manner promoted calm communication making everyone at ease in her presence. She was a talented cook who celebrated family gatherings and holidays around her delicious meals, traditions her family will honor and perpetuate. She was an outstanding athlete who learned golf at age 50 and scored a hole-in-one at the 110-yard tenth hole at Eaglewood last year. She played three times in the week before returning to NJ to begin chemotherapy. She and her longtime partner of 16 years, Frank Giammattolo of Ontario, Canada loved their Eaglewood community especially the golf events, bocce games and wonderful friends. Jean was also an avid fan of the game show Jeopardy and was deeply saddened by the loss of Alex Trebek. Jean was born in Hackensack and raised her family in Emerson, NJ. A highlight of her and Vincent’s life together was their involvement in Marriage Encounter and their travel adventures which included Europe, Israel and Egypt. After retirement in 1984, they moved to Lakeside Drive in Forked River where they enjoyed sunset views of Deer Head Lake with friends and family. She earned her real estate license soon thereafter and​ quickly became an asset for young couples searching for their first homes. She was awarded Realtor-of-the Month at Zachariae Realty multiple times and was proud to be a Million Dollar Salesperson. The family is most grateful to her oncologist, Dr. Peter Mencel, of Atlantic Hematology-Oncology at Hackensack Meridian Health, Hope Tower. He cared for Jean as if she were his own mother. They also thank the hospice nurses and aides who helped to keep her peaceful at the end of her life. A funeral mass in celebration of her life is scheduled at St. Catharine’s Church in Spring Lake on Saturday June 19th at 9 am. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Hackensack Meridian Foundation at Ocean Medical Center in the name of Dr. Mencel. http://give.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/