Aleta M. Dougherty Rankin Of Bayville Dies At 60

Courtesy of Ocean County Cremation Service:

Aleta M. Dougherty Rankin, Bayville, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2015, after a two-and-a-half-year battle with non-small cell lung cancer. She was 60.

Born in Newark to Lucille and Anthony Dougherty, Aleta was raised in Maplewood before the family moved to Toms River in 1969. She moved to Bayville in 1994. Aleta retired in 2013 after 34 years of service at the Ocean County Board of Social Services. She was also a consultant for Longaberger Baskets.

She enjoyed her home, family, gardening and entertaining, and hosted many “Bunco” and game nights. She also enjoyed shopping and prided herself on always getting a bargain. She parlayed that love of shopping along with her sister, Cheryl to create amazing gift baskets which were raffled off at her annual breast cancer fundraiser, known as Horizon of Hope. Horizon of Hope grew over the years and “The Event” as it was known raised over $10,000 for the American Cancer Society in 2014. She was also captain of Baskets of Hope team for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer annual walk. Aleta also volunteered for Contact of Ocean/Monmouth County, and was involved in many charity causes, including The United Way.

She was predeceased by her father, Anthony J. Dougherty; brother, Alan J. Dougherty; brother, Glenn A.Dougherty; and mother, Lucille Kessler. She is survived by her loving daughter, Colleen Rankin Bronzino, son-in-law, Peter Bronzino, Toms River; her devoted sister and brother-in-law, Cheryl A. and Paul Kearns, Bayville; brother and sister-in-law, Brian and Joanne Dougherty, Pipersville, PA; brother and sister-in-law, Scott and Ayumi Dougherty, Tokyo, Japan; stepsister, Nancy Phalunkorn, Oceanport; step-brother and sister-in-law, Ron and Lauren Kessler, Bayville; step-sister, Peggy Swirbell, Toms River; nephew, Derek Dougherty, Costa Mesa, CA; and two nieces, Leona and Wren Dougherty, Tokyo, Japan.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society , Making Strides Against Breast Cancer /Baskets of Hope Team, The Lung Cancer Alliance or the charity of your choosing.