Hundreds Attend Funeral For Young Berkeley Sergeant, Mother Of 2

by Patricia A. Miller

BAYVILLE, NJ - After the police officers stood at attention in blustery, cold winds, after the bagpipes keened, after the bells of St. Barnabas R.C. Church tolled, pallbearers gently wheeled Berkeley Sgt. Alison J. Wray's coffin inside the church.

A shaft of sunlight flickered on her casket throughout much of her funeral Mass. The seats in the church were a sea of blue. Officers from around the state packed the pews.

The New Jersey State Police. The entire Berkeley Township police force. Margate, Brigantine, Toms River, Brick, Stafford and many more. Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. arrived in a Berkeley police car.

"Grief is never an easy burden to bear, even if it comes to us in what we regard as an untimely fashion," Rev. Stanley P. Lukaszewski said.

Sgt. Wray had served Berkeley Township for almost a decade. By all accounts, she loved her job. She was only 32.

"She really enjoyed her work," Lukaszewski said "It was more than a job. It was a vocation."

When she set out for a work shift on Oct. 29, she had no idea it would be her last. She suffered a stroke sometime that day while on duty. She died on Nov. 3, but had a chance to speak to her two boys, Harrison, 2, and Henry, 4, before she passed away.

One of the most poignant moments came when three young children walked down the aisle to hand the offertory to Lukaszewski. He leaned down to speak to them all. The smallest was Henry Wray, the sergeant's little son. He put his hand on the little boy's shoulder and drew him close.

Just before the end of the Mass, drummers and bagpipers surrounded her casket and played "Amazing Grace."

Officers and the audience silently filed out. The officers lined up at attention again outside. A New Jersey State Police helicopter suddenly loomed low overhead, thundering in the sky. It flashed its lights.

And then she was gone.

Sergeant Wray began her career with Berkeley Township in 2008 and later graduated from the Atlantic County Police Academy. Wray began in the patrol division and moved up the ranks quickly. She was promoted to sergeant in 2015.

She is survived by her fiancée, Sgt. Henry Ganska of the Berkeley Township Police Department, their two children Harrison, age 2 and Henry, age 4. Sergeant Wray is also survived by her two stepchildren, Cole, age 11 and Reagan, age 15.

To donate to the GoFundMe account set up for Sgt. Wray's children click here.

Photo: by Patricia A. Miller