Jean Salek Kobiela

Former Somerville, NJ resident, Jean H. Kobiela, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2023.

She was born on December 13, 1929 in Dunellen, NJ to Gladys and Theodore Oakley. She and her family eventually moved to Raritan, NJ. Jean graduated from Somerville High School in 1947. She married her first husband, Joseph Salek, in 1947 following his return from World War II. Jean and Joseph raised four sons and were married for 32 years until his passing in 1979. Jean and Joseph were strongly devoted to their family and enjoyed summers at the Jersey Shore. The family joke when the boys were growing up was that for the longest time they were not allowed to know her real age and were not allowed to see her driver’s license.

Jean was also a working wife and mother. She was employed by Ortho Pharmaceuticals in Raritan, NJ; then later employed by Ethicon Research Laboratories in Somerville, NJ, where she retired from in 1990.

Jean remarried in 1990 to John Kobiela, who served as the mayor of Somerville, NJ from 1991 through 1996. They were married for 29 years until his passing in 2019. John was the father of four children from his first marriage, and grandfather to five children. Jean and John had a very busy life where they enjoyed their families and traveling throughout the United States and Europe. In their later years they enjoyed visiting Atlantic City.

Jean is predeceased by her first husband, Joseph Salek; and her husband John Kobiela. She is also predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law, Theodore and Fredericka Oakley; and her son, James Salek.

Jean will be missed by her friends and family; especially her three sons: William (wife Susan), David (wife Elaine) and Lawrence; and her brother and sister-in-law William and Sandra Oakley. She leaves behind eight grandchildren: Carrie, Julianne (husband Barrett), Amy (husband Jay) , Billy, Michael (wife Archana), Tiffany, Thomas and Michael, and four great-children: Mira, Patrick, Winona and Warren. She also leaves behind three nieces: Doreen, Judy, and Margaret and two nephews: William and James.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in Jean’s memory to the American Heart Association, Donate Online .