Pamela Lee Mayer-Backes
Pamela Lee Mayer-Backes passed away on April 21st, 2022, at home with her family. She was born on April 6th, 1959, at Betts Hospital in Easton, PA. She lived in Everettstown, NJ until married and was a resident of Phillipsburg, NJ for 35 years. She attended Lester D. Wilson Elementary School, graduated from DelVal High School, both in Hunterdon County, NJ and attended Trenton State College in Trenton, NJ.
She handled financing and payroll for Visiting Health and Supportive Services in Quakertown, NJ, ran The Tool Crib (the family business) located in Pittstown, NJ and while her son attended Phillipsburg High School, worked part time for Sailor’s Florist in Palmer, PA.
A true Patriot, she had a passion for American History in general and the history of Phillipsburg in particular. She was past President and recently Treasurer of the Phillipsburg Area Historical Society. She was deeply involved in the preservation and restoration of the Roseberry House on Warren Street in Phillipsburg.
Born Pamela Lee Rose and adopted to Fred and Alice Mayer of Evervettstown, NJ, she resided with her adoptive parents and adoptive grandmother Jennis Curtis - who she loved dearly. After years of searching (and eventually finding) her birth family, she discovered her ancestry came from the Rose and Roseberry lineage in Phillipsburg. Further genealogical research led to the discovery of her Patriot and joining the Daughters of the American Revolution. She helped form the Captain Daniel Vliet Chapter, DAR in Warren County, NJ, where she served as Regent and Registrar.
Pamela is survived by her husband Richard Backes, son, Matthew Backes, and his wife Cecilia - her sister Carla Smith, husband Jeff and her sons Thomas and Kasey - her sister Robin Dean, husband Bill and her daughters Reyan, Kera and Devon - her sister Marta Templeton Moser and her son Robert and daughter Corine - and more aunts, uncles, cousins, great nieces and great nephews than you can shake a stick at. She loved her family, her country and life. She will be missed.
Viewing hours will be on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at Finegan Funeral Home at 302 Heckman Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be on Wednesday April 27, 2022, at the Finegan Funeral Home at 1 p.m., with interment to follow at Phillipsburg Cemetery on Filmore Street.
In addition to accepting flowers, charitable donations may be sent to Phillipsburg Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 175, and 361 Memorial Parkway, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865.