John Wilbraham

John Wilbraham entered eternal rest on September 17, 2023, after having spent some of his final days with his sons, visiting his favorite spots on the campus of his Alma Mater, the University of Notre Dame. How befitting that it ended for John where it had begun with his beloved wife, Kay Vogelsang in their cherished South Bend. Their love story began there when John was a student at Notre Dame and had gone on a double date. John was the other girl’s date but fell for Kay at first sight; he’d ask her out the next day. They went to see “Some Like it Hot” at the drive-in theater, borrowing Kay’s mom’s car. A week after John’s graduation in 1962, they would marry. Their 56-year union was blessed by three boys: Thomas (Wade Kocsovsky), Christopher (Lori), and Patrick (Amy); and later by grandchildren, Tristan, Charlotte, Holly, Ava, and Harry. Additional surviving relatives include his brother, Edward (Lisa) and many nieces and nephews.

John graduated from St. Joseph’s Grammar school in Swedesboro, with his 15-month younger brother Francis. They both graduated together from Gloucester Catholic High School in 1958. They went on to attend the University of Notre Dame where they again graduated together in 1962. Following graduation, John was employed by Clark Equipment Company, Niles, Michigan. A few years later, desiring a return to his South Jersey roots, John and Kay moved back to Swedesboro, where they remained lifelong residents and raised their sons. John pursued a banking career until his retirement. Following his retirement, he worked as an in-house accountant at Botto’s Restaurant, where he was a frequent diner. He and Kay were avid cruisers (55 together). It gave John immense pleasure to continue the cruising tradition with his sons and their families. Fall Saturdays would find John religiously cheering on or shouting at his beloved Fighting Irish with a Manhattan in his hand.

Please join us in celebrating 83 years of a life fully lived Sunday 6pm-8pm at Daley Life Celebration Studio, Swedesboro and Monday 8:30am-9:30am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11am at The Church of Incarnation, Mantua. Interment, St Joseph Cemetery, Woolwich. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in John’s memory to a cause near and dear to his and his family’s hearts – The Boy Scouts of America, Troop 13, 109 Benito Drive, Swedesboro, NJ 08085. John and his two brothers proudly earned the ranks of Eagle Scout, as well as John’s sons, Patrick and Christopher. Throughout life, John stressed the importance of scouting and the lasting and positive impact it had had on his life.