Merle R. McIntyre, 91, of Lopatcong Township, NJ, passed away on November 29, 2023, at Holy Family Manor, in Bethlehem, PA.
Born on May 9, 1932, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, she was the daughter of the late Sherrif Romaine and Margaret (Francis) Romaine.
Merle moved to St. Georges, Grenada with her late brother Walston Romaine at the age of 11 years old. After attending High School, she was awarded a scholarship to attend nursing school. After graduating nursing school, she met and married her late husband, Joseph P. McIntyre. They had two children, Jacinta (McIntyre) Saporito and Gerard McIntyre. Merle worked as a nurse in St. Georges, Grenada.
In 1963, Merle was given the opportunity to travel to the United States through a nursing sponsorship program to work at Brookdale Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York. Merle worked multiple shifts to be able to save money to bring her family to the United States. Once her family came to the United States, they settled in East Orange, New Jersey. Merle then went to continue her nursing career at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. After five years she transferred to Veterans Administration Hospital in Lyons, New Jersey where she retired at the age of 60. Merle was not ready to stop helping others. She went on to join a nursing agency doing per diem work throughout New Jersey. She then joined Roosevelt Care Center at Old Bridge in Old Bridge, New Jersey. She retired from there at the age of 75.
Merle is survived by her daughter; Jacinta (McIntyre) Saporito and husband Michael of Ellendale, DE, her son; Gerard McIntyre of New York, NY, her grandchildren; Bernard and Sarah and her great-grandchildren; Billie and Cameron.
Viewing Hours will be held on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, from 6 to 8 PM, at the Finegan Funeral Home, 302 Heckman St, Phillipsburg, NJ. There will be an additional Viewing Period the following day, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, from 8:45 to 9:45 AM, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10:30 AM at Saint Philip and Saint James Catholic Church, 430 South Main St, Phillipsburg, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, via https://www.alz.org/