Support Surges For Triplets: Mother Killed In Long Valley Crash

LONG VALLEY, NJ — A GoFundMe fundraising campaign continues to climb in excess of its $30,000 goal on Friday, only a day after it began.

The fundraiser was established for the triplet children of Gina Pateman, 52 of Califon, who died in a two-vehicle accident on Tuesday in Long Valley.

Jenn Boothe, who started the fundraiser in Pateman’s memory, wrote in the GoFundMe post that Pateman was the mother of triplets Tyler, Cecelia and Julia, who are attempting to process the loss of their mother.

Gina Pateman's grief-stricken children created a website to celebrate their mother's life, stating they were grateful for the support they have received.

"While there is nothing that could outweigh the burden of our grief, knowing how many people loved our mom and are offering to help means the world to us," the children wrote.

Pateman's memorial service is planned on Monday at St. Luke's Church at 265 West Mill Road in Long Valley, from 1 to 5 p.m., with her funeral on Tuesday at the church between 10 and 11 a.m., according to the family's website.

“We are hoping to raise money to help them with funeral expenses and cover time missed from work,” Boothe wrote, stating the three children will now need to “navigate life without her guidance and support.”

“Her children were everything to her,” Boothe said. “If you knew Gina, you knew how much she loved them and how proud she was to be their mother.”

Boothe described Pateman as a “shining light who brought laughter and joy to everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.”

Referring to her as a friend who was always a phone call away, Boothe said Pateman “had the unique gift of being able to make friends with anybody, anywhere she went.”

Click here for more information about the fundraiser to help provide support for Pateman’s children and here for the website tribute.

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office released Pateman’s name on Wednesday following the fatal accident that closed a section of Bartley Road near North and South 4 Bridges Roads for about four hours on Tuesday.

Pateman was one of drivers, said Meghan Knab, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office.

There were no other injuries in the crash, with the investigation ongoing and no further details released, said Knab.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.