Lynn Marie Engel

Lynn Marie Engel of Cape Coral, Florida, passed away peacefully into the loving hands of God on July 29, 2025, after a long and courageous health battle.

Born and raised in New York City to Lester and Millicent, Lynn loved the city and all the activities that came with it, especially spending time on the beaches of Coney Island.

Early in her career, Lynn worked for Pan Am Airlines as one of the first computer programmers for the company and in the industry.

Soon she met her husband, Walt during a trip to Lake George, NY. After their marriage they lived in Edison, NJ and Waldwick, NJ before settling in Ridgewood, NJ to raise their two children, Dan and Jessica.

While raising the children Lynn was very active in her community and in supporting her children’s activities. She was a Ski Patrol Member at Vernon Valley Ski Area, a Girls Scout troop leader, Sunday School Teacher, and active member of the PTOs at her children’s schools. She and Walt also owned and ran a retail gift shop for many years. Lynn was well-known by friends and family for her chocolate making. No family party or holiday was complete without her chocolate pops and nut clusters.

Once her children were grown up and married, Lynn worked for the Village of Ridgewood in the Purchasing Department. She loved not only the job, but all of the wonderful people she met and the friends she made during that time.

This was also a time that brought some of the greatest joy to her life as she welcomed her seven grandchildren. She welcomed them each with an immeasurable amount of love while showering their parents with that same love, support, and guidance as they embarked on their new adventures. She was a daily presence in all of their lives.

Upon their retirement, Lynn and Walt moved to Cape Coral, Florida, splitting their time between NJ and Florida, enjoying the sunny warm beaches of Florida, and boating in the Gulf, while still being in NJ for every holiday, birthday, or special event. She was a frequent attendee at sports events, band and chorus concerts, art shows, school plays and graduations. 

In Florida, Lynn was a member of multiple boating clubs, as well as book clubs and even learned mahjong, where she built many close friendships.

Lynn was predeceased by her parents, as well as her stepfather, Ed and her aunts Pauline and Freida.

Lynn is survived by her husband of 56 years, Walt, her son, Dan and his wife Jenn, her daughter Jessica and her husband Ted, her added family Chrissie and Neil and her grandchildren Kaitlyn, Ben, Eric, Alexis, Lucas, Chelsea, and Connor. She is also survived by her brothers Richard and his wife Paula and Lester and his wife Donna, and her nieces and nephews and their families, as well as cousins and many friends and friends who were family.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, August 7, 2025, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff, NJ. A memorial service will follow immediately after, at 6:00 pm. Interment will be held privately at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Owen's Army, at the following link: https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?team_id=32334&fr_id=2380&pg=team This group was created in memory of Owen Lynch, Ted and Jessica’s nephew, who passed away at the age of three of rhabdomyosarcoma.