Obituary of Monica M. Wright

Monnica "Mo" Wright, Heaven's Very Special Child, passed away on February 12, 2024 at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Pomona, NJ with her loving family by her side. She was 57. Monica was born in Atlantic City on September 25, 1966, to Josephine and Robert Wright, and raised in Pleasantville with her seven siblings - Bobby, Vicky, Tommy, Danny, Frank (Twank), Wayne and JoAnn. In 2005, Monica moved with her parents and brother Tommy to Northfield, where she lived until joining her sister Vicky in Egg Harbor Township. Vicky was Mo's caregiver, co-guardian, and guiding light for the past 16 years. Some of us were curious, some of us nervous, when our parents told us in September 1966 that Mo was going to be "different." But it didn't take long for us to realize that God had blessed our family with a special gift. Monica was slow to talk, slow to walk, slow to learn – but that just made each of her accomplishments even more amazing. We reveled in watching Mo learn – the determination on her face, the never-give-up attitude, that incredible smile when she finally "got it" and the infectious laugh that followed. Born into a family of athletes, Down Syndrome was not going to stop Monica from becoming an athlete herself. She entered the Special Olympics and excelled at the softball throw and track & field. She also loved to bowl. Mo loved all sports – rooting for her home team Phillies, Eagles, Flyers and 76ers, with periodic forays into the favorite teams of family members or friends – the Colts, Dolphins, Chiefs, and even her brother Bobby's Cowboys. She added the Washington Nationals to her baseball fandom when she spent time in Virginia with her sister JoAnn. Mo was also an exuberant supporter of her family's sports activities - attending Pleasantville High School football games with brother Tommy, hanging in the dugout at her brothers' softball games while holding a clipboard so she could "assist" with the coaching, and cheering for her nephews at their football games and her nieces at their basketball and softball games. And she was front and center when her family posed with the 2nd place trophy in the Alexandria, VA round-the-clock coed softball marathon tournament. Monica's love was boundless. She danced, sang, teased, smiled, laughed and hugged her way into the hearts of everyone she met. She lit up the room at Easter Seals and at the ARC, where she spent many happy years. She loved Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Elton ("Uncle") John, Wynonna, and the Phillie Phanatic, whom she loved to imitate. The joy on Mo's face when Wayne arranged a birthday dance with the Phanatic was priceless. Mo's favorite movie was the Wizard of Oz; she watched it over and over, and I Love Lucy and WWE Smackdown were her favorite TV shows. Mo is survived by her seven siblings, her sisters-in-law – Patti ("Paaaati") and Millie, almost 50 nephews and nieces, more than 50 cousins, and her best friends Judie (Toodie) and Vincent. Mo's life was enriched by numerous caregivers over the years – Dottie and Carol in the earlier years, and Tiffani, Maria, Mel, Jamilla, and Madison in her later years. The Wright Family would like to thank Easter Seals (especially Anne Marie, Cindy, Rahsaan and Kelli), the ARC of Atlantic County, Guiding Hands, Med A Quest, Golden Hue, Values in Action, and Angelic Palliative Care for brightening Mo's life. We also thank the medical staff of AtlantiCare's ER and ICU for the exceptional care they gave to Mo and the kindness and compassion they showed our family. To our sister Vicky and her children Michael, Nick, Joe and Tori -- you gave Mo her second home and filled it with your love, keeping her safe, warming her heart, and making her laugh. We are forever grateful. Monica went by several names – Mo, Mona, MoMo – but she liked Mo the best. She would walk into a room and say "My name is Mo – Mo Wright." Everyone would look up and smile. Our Angel is gone and our hearts are broken. But our hearts are also full – like only Mo could fill them. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated for Mo on Saturday, February 17, at St. Gianna Beretta Molla Church, 1421 New Road, Northfield, NJ. Viewing begins at 9:30am, Mass at 11am, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Mays Landing. For those who wish to donate in Mo's memory, her family suggests 21Down (www.21down.org) or the ARC (https://thearc.org/). Arrangements by the Gormley Funeral Home LLC/AC (gormleyfuneralhomellc.com)