Obituary of Patricia Jane Kovacs
Patricia Jane Sipos Kovacs entered this world in Perth Amboy, NJ, on July 25th, 1943. She graduated into the glory of our Lord Jesus on September 19, 2025. Her parents were Walter and Elizabeth (nee Erdelyi) Sipos. Several years after her father’s death when she was only 14, Pat was blessed with a wonderful stepfather, Mr. Geza Budai. Pat had no siblings except for her extended family, including her brother-in-law Stephen and sister-in-law Sue Kovacs of Palm Coast, FL.
Pat’s dearest friend and life partner was her husband of 54 years, John E. Kovacs, of Wharton, NJ. They often laughed at their obvious differences- Pat being the more talkative extrovert and John taking the more introverted role. Yet they were on in their approach to life and in the values they shared. In 1969 they moved to Denville, NJ to raise their two children they loved in the community they loved. Pat is survived by her son Kenneth J. Kovacs and his wife Janet (nee Buttacavoli) from Effort, PA, and her daughter Kimberly J. Myrum and husband Randall Myrum, of Mt. Pleasant, WI, along with five grand-children who brought immense joy to John and Pat’s life: Alyssa and Ashley Kovacs, and Isaac, Hannah, and Abigail Myrum. She is also survived by many dear cousins and beloved sisters and brothers in Christ.
Pat grew up in Carteret, NJ attending the public schools, graduating Salutatorian of her high school class, and then went on to earn her BAdegree from Douglass College with Phi Beta Kappa high honors in German. She received a full scholarship to graduate school, earning her MA in German language and literature from Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT and Mainz, Germany.
Upon returning from her year of study abroad, Pat worked as a bilingual legal secretary at a German American law firm in Manhattan, eventually switching to the career she was really drawn to- teaching. For several years she worked as a German teacher at Hillside School in Bridgewater, NJ. She also worked as a substitute at the Saturday German school in Morris Plains.
Blessings abounded, but Pat still felt there was something missing in her life.
In June 1981 she found the answers to many questions she had been asking from the time of her youth-questions about the nature of God, His innate goodness, His perfect sense of justice, and whether He truly loves the people He created. God brought her to the realization that He does not want any of us to live in darkness but to cast aside our pride and come to Jesus for forgiveness of our sins. Pat realized the truth she had been seeking was simply the gospel of old: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures… He was buried… And he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.“
(1 Cor 15:3-4). This truth now became the driving force of her life.
Pat devoted the remainder of her life to sharing the gospel and praising the God who never left her side and who loved her unconditionally despite her human flaws and failures. With full assurance of a beautiful eternal life ahead, Pat served the Lord however, wherever, and whenever she could. She would be the first to say that anything she did, having any worth at all, was done in and through and by the gracious loving Spirit of God. Pat’s blossoming passion for over 40 years was to connect others with Jesus, chiefly by teaching Bible studies to women.
Pat’s “fun interests” included cooking and baking, especially Hungarian food rooted in her peasant ancestry. In various stages of her life, she was a gardener, a birdwatcher, and the typical soccer/music mom. Pat also enjoyed writing poems and has her secret stash buried in her computer somewhere. She would occasionally share a poem or two if she thought it might enhance the topic she was teaching.
Spending time with her grandkids made her one very contented grandma. Playing games with them, watching them perform, going on trips together, taking them fishing with Grandpa, or just talking...they were the treasures tucked into Pat’s heart.
Pat’s most fervent wish was for her life to demonstrate an overflowing gratitude to the faithful God she loved, and helping others know the love of Jesus.
If any one wishes to make a charitable contribution in lieu of flowers, please consider:
1) Crossway Radio, Calvary Chapel Morris Hills, 158 W. Clinton St. Dover, NJ 07801
2) Good Shepherd Mission, 336 Broadway, PO Box 2401 Paterson, NJ 07501
3) St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105
A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, September 26th from 9 AM – 11 AM at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville, followed by an 11 AM service there, with burial at Calvary Cemetery, 846 Florida Grove Road, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 (cemetery entrance will be on your left.) Please leave a condolence, light a candle, and share your favorite memory of Pat here to continue to celebrate the beautiful life bestowed upon us.
