Obituary of Viola Josephine Spock

Viola J. Spock, age 94, died on Wednesday, July 21, 2015 at RWJ University Hospital at Somerset. She was born in Newark, raised in South Plainfield and lived in Martinsville since 1960. During World War II , she worked for the Navy in Washington D.C. Prior to her retirement, she worked in Quality Control at Burroughs in Warren which became Unisys Corp. in Flemington. Mrs. Spock was a member of the N.J. Mycological Association for 37 years and the North American Mycological Association for 34 years. She represented both associations at the Fungi Information tables at the Union County and Duke Bioblitzes and various outreach programs. She was the co-chairperson of Dye and Papermaking Committees of both organizations for more than 15 years. She was a Founding Member of the International Fungi and Fiber Symposium. She participated in National and International mushroom trips and conferences, traveling to Czechoslovakia, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Scotland and England. She knitted and hooked rugs with mushroom dyed wools. She guest lectured at Rutgers University each year for 20 years on using mushrooms for natural dyes to obtain, purples, reds, blues and other bright colors. Mrs. Spock and her husband enjoyed square dancing. She volunteered at the Veteran's Hospital for several years. She was a Garden Club member and hiked with the Somerset County Hiking group for many years. During her time in South Plainfield, she was a Girl Scout Leader a worked for the Recreation and Parks department during the summer. She is predeceased by her husband, Joseph G. Spock; her brother, Stanley Pitera and her sister, Mae Cottelli. Surviving are her daughters, Kathleen Spock, Melanie Spock and her brother, Frank T. Pitera and his wife, Olga. Visiting will be on Monday, July 27, 2015 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung followed by a Mass of Resurrection at 10:30 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, Martinsville. Interment will follow the Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery, Basking Ridge.