Obituary of Jerilyn A McBride

McBride, Jerilyn A. (nee Lombardo), age 79 of Pawleys Island, S.C. on April 6, 2022. The beautiful and only daughter of John and Helen (Sentkowski) Lombardo. Beloved wife of the late Daniel J. McBride (1986). Loving mother and is survived by her three children Tracy McBride (Timothy Mustachio), Daniel McBride and Michael McBride. Beloved grandmother of Christina Mustachio (husband Mark) and Brendon Daniel Mustachio, and great-grandmother to Jake and Cash Michael.

She is also survived by her amazing partner in life, Robert (Bob) Kopyta and a wonderful extended family of children: Robert (Bob) Jr. (Carla), Gregory (Anne), Jeffrey (Barbara), Mary Pat (Jake) Vogel, Lee Ann (Sergio) Maruschak, 15 grandchildren and great granddaughter, Quinn.

She is preceded in death by her uncle, Vincent Lombardo.

Born in Paterson, NJ, she lived in Totowa, NJ for most of her life. She attended and graduated Passaic Valley High School (Class of 1959). She met her husband Daniel in 1960 and they were married in 1963 and raised their three children in Totowa, NJ. She was an Agent for State Farm Insurance Agency, Elmwood Park, NJ and worked for 18 years with Ray Peche' &  Co. before retiring, as well as being a loving housewife. Upon her husband's (Daniel) passing in 1986, she continued to raise and devote herself to her children with all the love and support any son or daughter could ask for.

In 1991 she moved from Totowa to Crystal Springs Golf Resort (Hamburg, NJ) and lived there for many years and enjoyed playing golf with her many close friends in her morning Women's League and routinely shot in the low 90s. She also lived up to her mother's nickname (Hot Rod Helen) when she would drive around in her "4th child", her Camaro Z28 with T tops. It was her pride and joy, though there are unconfirmed reports of her sons Daniel and Michael taking it for an occasional joy ride when she was away.

At Crystal Springs she would also meet the wonderful man she would spend the rest of her life with, Robert (Bob) Kopyta. In 2005, they moved down to Pawleys Island, South Carolina and enjoyed an amazing life together. Their mutual love and passion for golf, food, cooking and their culinary skills complimented each other perfectly. They enjoyed their morning walks on the beach, taking vacations and cruises together, and the big holiday dinners with family. She also single-handedly would make the Hallmark Channel the holiday ratings behemoth it has become with her love of their Christmas movies year-round.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 2-4pm and 7-9pm on Tuesday, April 19th at Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd., Totowa. Relatives are also invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 9:30 AM. Funeral mass to follow at St. James R.C. Church, Totowa at 10:00 AM. Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org) and/or the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (www.bcrf.org).