Jacqueline A. (Mayer) Van Orden, 83, was a lifelong Elizabeth, NJ resident who entered into eternal rest on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Jacqueline was born in Elizabeth on September 30, 1941, a daughter of the late John & Dorothy (Kirk) Mayer. Jacqueline leaves behind her beloved husband of 64 years Donald R. Van Orden, her sons Donald J. Van Orden, Raymond Van Orden and her daughter Lisa Van Orden-Kaan (son-in-Law Kenneth Kaan), dear sister Alyce Cassidy (Brother-in-law Gene Cassidy), dear brother Robert Mayer (late sister-in-law Ann-Marie Mayer) and James Mayer and Bunny Mayer (late brother and sister-in-law), her cherished grandchildren, Brandon, Dylan, Tyler Van Orden, step grandchildren Lauren & David Farrell and step great-grandchildren, Colin, Corinne & Connor Farrell and many many dearly loved family and friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation to celebrate Jacqueline's life on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 in the Leonard-Lee Funeral Home, 301 E. Blancke Street, Linden from 4 pm to 8 pm. The funeral will begin at the funeral home on Thursday April 3rd at 9:00 am followed by a 10:00 am Funeral Mass in St. Elizabeth Church, Linden. Entombment will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Newark.
Jacqueline was a Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School Graduate in Elizabeth. Before retiring around 2003, Jacqueline worked for Huffman-Koos Furniture Store Linden Warehouse as a salesclerk for about 10 years.  Before that she also enjoyed her sales job at Carlin's Men's Clothing Store on Broad Street in Elizabeth for many years. Jacqueline had a great mind for numbers and enjoyed helping customers with home design, and while working at Huffman-Koos she achieved top sales numbers several times while only working part-time. Jacqueline was a great fan of going to Atlantic City starting with her honeymoon.  Jackie and Don enjoyed many years of fun and making wonderful memories with family and friends.
Family dinners meant so much to Jackie and she never missed hosting a holiday meal with her cherished loved ones. For many years she hosted Labor Day family reunions in her back yard at her home in Elizabeth. Family meant so much to Jacqueline and she was the guiding force for these family reunions to continue to this day each and every year since 2011. The family continues to get together and celebrate their love and laughter.
In lieu of flowers donations to the family would be greatly appreciated.