April 15, 1951 - August 24, 2022
On Wednesday, August 24th, William (Bill) Butler was sadly taken from us after a brief illness. Born in New York City on April 15, 1951 to the late William and Anne Butler, Bill grew up in the Fresh Meadows neighborhood of Queens, NY. Following his schooling at Bishop Reilly High School, he attended Villanova University and the City University of New York. On August 19, 1972, he married the love of his life, Rosemary Butler and they began their five decades together in Edison, NJ where they raised their three sons. Bill will be most remembered as the ultimate family man, adoring his children, daughters-in-laws and his most prized, his six grandchildren. Whether it was playing Pretty, Pretty Princess or traveling hours to watch their games, he lit up every time at the sight of each of them. Nothing made him happier than rooting for his beloved Yankees and Giants. He had unrelenting devotion to his family, always dedicated to creating the best experiences he could for his family and sharing his love for the simple pleasures in life. He had an infectious and self-deprecating sense of humor that made him a pleasure to be around. Bill spent many years coaching his sons in their early years in all the various sports they played. His community always knew him as that coach that made the game fun for the kids. He fostered teamwork and sportsmanship that impacted hundreds of kids throughout the years. Bill was also a man of deep faith and was an active member of St. Matthew’s Parish in Edison, NJ and then later St. Gregory the Great Parish of Hamilton, NJ. At both churches, he volunteered countless hours as a lector, Eucharistic Member of the Sick, member of the father’s club and selflessly took on other impactful duties to support the community. Survived by his cherished wife Rosemary, the two recently celebrated a remarkable 50 years of marriage this month. He is also survived by his eldest son William, and wife Melissa of Robbinsville, NJ, his son Christopher, and wife Molly of Westhampton, MA and his son Joseph, and wife Courtney of Apex, NC. He will be deeply missed by his six grandchildren Cora, Keegan, Liam, Declan, Jake and Austin as well as his beloved granddogs, Jackson and Tucker, who were the beneficiaries of his endless treats. Bill was predeceased by his infant son Daniel, his parents Bill and Anne Butler of Douglaston, Queens, NY, and his in-laws Robert and Lillian Butler of Flushing, Queens, NJ. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Thursday evening, September 1, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Buklad-Merlino Yardville Memorial Home, 30 Yardville-Allentown Road in Yardville. The funeral will be held on Friday morning, September 2, 2022, at 8:45 a.m. from the Buklad-Merlino Yardville Memorial Home, 30 Yardville-Allentown, Yardville, NJ.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. at St. Gregory the Great Church. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
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