Raymond Joseph Potkay

Raymond Joseph Potkay, 84, of Absecon, passed away on October 17,2024. Raymond was born in Trenton, NJ to Joseph and Helen (Rafalowski) Potkay. He graduated from Trenton Catholic High School and Rutgers University. Ray served in the Marine Reserves and, after a short stint as a statistician for the State of New Jersey, he returned to school to earn his master's degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Seton Hall University. He and his wife moved down to Absecon in the early 1970s where he worked as a speech pathologist for Easter Seals, Holy Redeemer and the Cape May County Health Department. Ray became a founding member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, he served as a Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus, and was active in many community organizations including ASAC. He enjoyed coaching and participating in many sports with both sons, but he was an avid fan of the Phillies, Sixers, Eagles, and loved the sport of tennis, in which he would always don his Wimbledon attire every year during the June tournament. Raymond had a robust appetite and could talk for days about his favorite meals and where to find the best tomato pie in Trenton (DiLorenzo's). He truly enjoyed family gatherings, particularly those held in Connecticut with his aunts, uncles and cousins, where he could feast on the Polish dishes prepared, as well as listen to the WWII stories being told by his uncles.

Raymond is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Ursula; his two sons, Dan (Jae) and Joe (Stephanie); and his adoring daughter, Jennifer (Jackson) Hegland. He loved his grandchildren, Grady, Ella, Andrew, Avery, Amelia, and Austin.

A gathering will be 6PM to 8PM on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at Parsels Funeral Home, 324 New Jersey Ave., Absecon. Additional gathering on Thursday, October 24, 2024 from 9:45AM to 10:45AM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 591 New Jersey Ave., Absecon, where a funeral mass will be offered at 11AM. A special thanks to the Meadowview Nursing Home in Northfield and the Caring Center in Mays Landing. For online condolences, please visit www.parselsfh.com.