Obituary of Collette Jean "Teddy" Meagher

Collette Jean “Teddy” Suffern Meagher, 70, of Lawrenceville, passed away at home on Saturday, December 7, 2024, surrounded by her loving husband of 51 years and her six adoring children.

Born in New Orleans, LA, to Anne Wilson Suffern and William R. Suffern, Teddy was a long-time resident of Mercer County. She was a graduate of Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville and held a bachelor’s degree in English from The College of New Jersey in Ewing.

Teddy held many jobs throughout her life, but none were more important to her than teaching. She poured her heart and soul into all of her students, always striving to better their lives academically and spiritually. Teddy loved learning, and she always looked for ways to expand her knowledge and teaching skills. She earned her Orton-Gillingham certification in 2016 and went on to teach fellow educators this multisensory approach to phonics, reading, and literacy.

Beginning in 2004, Teddy taught a variety of elementary grade levels at St. Ann’s Catholic School in Lawrenceville. Teaching brought her so much joy and fulfillment that she continued to serve as a long-term substitute after her retirement in 2022.

Prior to joining St. Ann’s, Teddy taught second grade at Annunciation Catholic School in Washington, DC, from 2002 to 2004. Being able to prepare students for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion was a blessing to Teddy, whose Catholic faith was an important part of her identity.

She began her teaching journey at Notre Dame High School, where she taught English from 1998 to 2001. Prior to becoming an educator, Teddy served as tuition administrator for Notre Dame from 1990 to 1998. She also worked as the parish administrative assistant at the Church of the Incarnation in Ewing from 1986 to 1990.

Teddy was an active member of the Church of Saint Ann since 2004, and before that she was an active member of the Church of the Incarnation beginning in 1979. Teddy’s deep love of God and sincere faith sustained her throughout her life.

Her devotion to family was a central part of everything Teddy did. She absolutely loved being a mother to her six children and all that it entailed: attending countless games, plays, concerts, and other activities; crisscrossing central New Jersey to drive or pick them up; supporting their academic endeavors at colleges across the East Coast; and then encouraging them in their job pursuits. When her children became parents, each benefited from her vast experience and gentle, loving guidance. Grandma/Marmee always knew what to say and do to calm novice parents and bring smiles to the faces of her 14 grandchildren. Above all, grandmother Teddy was so much fun! She loved to go boogie-boarding with her grandchildren in the ocean and play games with them in the sand during the family’s annual vacation at Barnegat Light on Long Beach Island. Teddy was always excited to cheer on her grandchildren at their school productions, activities, and sporting events. For those grandchildren who lived far away, Teddy made sure she played an active role in their lives by exchanging texts and phone calls and visiting as much as she could. She was deeply loved by her grandchildren.

Teddy met Bill during their senior year at Notre Dame High School. While they started as friends, they were soon smitten. They married in 1973 and shortly after had their brood of children. They raised their six children together with love, laughter, and an abiding faith. Teddy and Bill loved spending time with each other, watching British mysteries on TV, listening to their special song on the short drive to church each week, and taking long walks together. Teddy delighted in the snacks that Bill would surprise her with in the middle of their walks. They shared a deep love, friendship, and faith throughout their 51 years of marriage.

Teddy never met a stranger. She delighted in talking to people and discovering all they had in common. She found it hard to resist a good bargain and was quick to tell everyone she knew about the great purchase she had just made. Teddy was a voracious reader, finishing books of all kinds at an astonishing rate. She loved people and was incredibly kind to everyone she met, making them feel truly welcomed. Joining the enormous Meagher family can be daunting, and Teddy was the ambassador of kindness, ushering new members into the fold. She was always able to laugh at herself and had a great sense of humor and quick wit, which she shared with her husband and handed down to her children.

She is survived by her loving husband William (Bill) Meagher, III; her six children and 14 grandchildren, including daughter Jeannie Chapman and her husband Chris (Maddie, Alex, Nate, and Lily Grace) of Atlanta, GA, daughter Katie Luckey and her husband Jake (Liam Siobhan and Claudia Collette) of Lawrenceville, NJ, son Billy Meagher and his wife Michelle (Keira and Gavin) of Westminster, MD, daughter Sarah Burns (Matthew) of Lawrenceville, NJ, daughter Mary Thomas and her husband Geoff (Teddy and Giulia) of Gilbert, AZ, son Mikey Meagher and his wife Julianne (Gabe, Sam, and Cecilia) of Columbia, MD; sister Catherine Suffern Fyfe of Houston, TX; brother and sister-in-law William and Wendy Suffern of Australia; and siblings-in-law Terry Meagher, Chris and Jill Meagher, Tom and Debbie Meagher, Tim and Andrea Meagher, Gerry Meagher, Beth Meagher, Mike and Karen Meagher, Mary Meagher, Julie and Fran Walsh, and Annie and Tucker Hoyt. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anne Wilson Suffern Bennett and William R. Suffern, sister Mary Lou Suffern McHenry, brothers-in-law James McHenry and Douglas Fyfe, parents-in-law Eileen Prial Meagher and William H. Meagher, Jr., and sisters-in-law Kathy Meagher and Margreet Tuinstra Meagher. Teddy will be missed by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, students, neighbors, and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. at the Church of Saint Ann located at 1253 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery located at 1200 Cedar Lane in Hamilton, NJ.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 13, 2024, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.

To honor Teddy and her love of education, please consider a donation to the Children’s Educational Lifeline (CEL) at St. Ann’s School. The CEL program provides tuition support to school families facing emergencies. Please send donations to Children’s Educational Lifeline (CEL), Saint Ann School, 34 Rossa Ave., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.