Mary Alice Cooper Zalescik, 61, of Hamilton

Mary Alice Cooper Zalescik, 61, of Hamilton NJ, died, peacefully, on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with her husband and sister by her side.

Born in Trenton, NJ, she was a lifelong Hamilton area resident. She graduated from Steinert High School class of 1974.

Mary retired from the New Jersey Division of Taxation in 2011 after 36 years of State service.

Mary was involved in various charities and associations throughout her life. She was a charter member and secretary of the Mercer Area Jaycees and a member of the New Jersey Jaycees. Mary spearheaded the funding of the Mercer Area Jaycees cabin for New Jersey Camp Jaycee and she received many community service awards for her work with the organization. She served on the March of Dimes Central Jersey Walk committee and the Robert Wood Johnson at Hamilton carnival and country dance committee.

She was a founding member of the Hamilton High School West Project Graduation Committee. She was instrumental in raising funds for the Hamilton Township Fire Monument in Veteran’s Park. She was a former Mercer County Democratic Committeewoman serving in Hamilton election district 5 and was a member of the Hamilton Township Democratic Club. She was a major supporter of Boheme Opera NJ and Tabby’s Place Cat Sanctuary of Ringoes.

Throughout her life, Mary rescued numerous stray and feral cats in the Hamilton area and gave them new lifelong homes. She enjoyed sewing, baking, ballroom, and country dancing. When she could no longer dance due to medical conditions, she traveled to many oldies and country music concerts throughout the United States. She was a Life member of the Peter Noone fan club otherwise known as a “Noonatic”. She enjoyed the music and friendship of Bobby Rydell a fellow double transplant patient from Philadelphia, and had a special connection with Ron Dante of the Archie’s.

In 1987, Mary took on a project to hand make nursing uniforms for the 100th anniversary of Helene Fuld Medical Center in Trenton New Jersey. The uniforms were crafted in the style from 1897 and were featured on ABC’s Good Morning America.

Special thanks to the medical care teams at Capital Health RMC and Hopewell Campuses, the medical team at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The career and volunteer firefighters at Rusling Hose Hamilton Township Fire District 3. Nursing and support care from Holy Redeemer and Mercer Home Care and special thanks to the care team at Care Street of Bordentown.

Sister of the late John Cooper, Jr. and Joseph Cooper, Mary is survived by her husband Joseph T. Zalescik and cats Dandy and Sophie, her sisters Trudi D’Errico and Ricci Cooper, her brothers and sisters-in-law Michael King, Virginia King, Andrew Zalescik, Jennifer Zalescik, Charles Zalescik, Katie Zalescik and Bonnie Cooper, her mother-in-law Virginie Greco Zalescik, her special friends Pat Riley and Terri Mount and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at 11:00am at Capital Health Outpatient Center Conference room located at 1445 White Horse Mercerville Road Hamilton New Jersey 08619.

Memorial contributions in Mary’s memory may be made to Tabby’s Place, 1100 US Highway 202 Ringoes, New Jersey 08551.

Arrangements are under the direction of Kingston & Kemp Funeral Home, Hamilton.