By MARY STADNYK
Associate Editor
Jean B. Boyle, who served as a certified recovery support practitioner in Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton’s Burlington facility, died Oct. 15 at age 61.
Funeral services were held Oct. 19 in the Carmona Bolen Home for Funerals, Toms River.
Ms. Boyle was born in Neptune and lived in Red Bank and Toms River before settling in Browns Mills nine years ago.
Less than three weeks before she died, Ms. Boyle was honored at Catholic Charities’ Guardian Angel Dinner Dance Sept. 25 during which she was presented with the Client Achievement Award. In accepting the award, she spoke of how her lifelong journey with mental illness led her to seek assistance at the agency’s Behavioral Health Services. She eventually became involved with Catholic Charities’ Riverbank Self-Help Center, Burlington, where she could learn and share with others following a similar path.
Ms. Boyle earned credentials as a Peer Recovery Specialist and was working toward becoming a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Her duties at the Riverbank included being a driver and a Mental Health Peer Advocate on one of Catholic Charities’ teams for Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT).
Through her work with Catholic Charities, Ms. Boyle became an advocate for people with behavioral health diagnoses. She shared her story with Catholic Charities USA. She also participated in a campaign, sponsored by the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc., calling for significant increases in funding for behavioral health services.
“Catholic Charities was here for me when I was at my lowest,” Ms. Boyle said, in accepting the Client Achievement Award. “Today, I am a full-time employee, and I own my own home. To be able to give [back to] someone the hand that has been given to me — that is everything to me.”
Marlene Lao-Collins, Catholic Charities’ executive director, said that Ms. Boyle was beloved by the many clients she supported in their recovery journeys, as well as by her family and colleagues.
“She remains a true inspiration to all of us who either walked alongside her during her journey or later learned about her remarkable story,” Lao-Collins said.
“Let us keep her in our thoughts and prayers and all those who were close to her,” Lao-Collins said. “May they find comfort during this difficult time in her inspiriting story and the blessing she was to others.”
Ms. Boyle was predeceased by her parents and niece. She is survived by her five sons; a brother; sister; brother-in-law; father, and many extended family members and friends.
Condolences may be expressed to the family by visitingwww.carmonabolenfh.com.