Nona Mae Magher McAteer, 86, of Bedminster passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at her home.

Born in Orange on July 8, 1939, she was the eldest of seven children of the late George Robert and Gladys Coulter Miller Magher.  She was named after her two grandmothers, Nona Frances Smith Miller and Mae Rummel Magher.  She was raised in Millburn and Summit graduating from Saint Rose of Lima Elementary School in Short Hills; Bayley Ellard High School in Madison in 1957; and Mount Saint Agnes College in Baltimore, MD in 1961 receiving a bachelor of science degrre in Medical Technology.

After graduation she became department head of hematology and instructor in the School of Medical Technology at Overlook Hospital, Summit.  In 1966 she married Eugene Francis McAteer, Jr.  They settled in Watchung where they raised four children and many pets.  Nona stayed at home while her husband, Gene, expanded his restaurant business to include The Twins Inn, Chester; The McAteers, Somerset; and The Meyersville Inn.  The McAteer home and yard was a magnet for neighborhood kids all year long.  Through the years the family vacationed in New Smyrna Beach, FL, Avalon, NJ and Ogunquit, ME.

Nona and Gene moved to Bedminster in 1994.  She worked as a medical technologist at Summit Medical Group in Watchung for 9 years, and later, as a substitute teacher in the Watchung Hills Regional School District for 10 years and the Bedminster Township Elementary School for 12 years retiring in 2014.  In retirement Nona and Gene expanded travel to include many trips on the Queen Mary.

She is predeceased by her beloved husband, Eugene F. McAteer, Jr., who died June 10, 2025; and by two siblings, Bob Magher and Margaret Solnicki.

Mrs. McAteer is survived by 2 sons, Eugene F. McAteer III and his wife, Stacy, of Warren and J. John McAteer of Oceanport; 2 daughters, Kathleen M. Updike of Washington and Nona M. Sposito and her husband, Joseph, of Madison, CT; 7 grandchildren, Shawn, Mary, Matthew, Nicholas, Peter, Mac and Erin; a brother, Michael Magher of Baritz, France; and 3 sisters, Sarah Jane Schoetz of Lake Placid, NY, Kathleen Jabbour of Mendham and Gladys Andrews of Durham, NC.  Her family will still gather to tell stories and cherish memories of Thanksgivings, Avalon and Ogunquit.

A memorial mass will be held at St. Brigid Church, 29 Main Street, Peapack on Saturday, March 14 at 11:00am.  A private family interment of both Nona and Gene’s cremains will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover at a later date.  Arrangements are by Layton Funeral Home, 475 Main Street, Bedminster.