Obituary of Lola J Mitchko

It is with broken hearts that our family shares the passing of Lola J. Mitchko, 77 who passed peacefully surrounded by her family on December 7, 2025.  She was born on November 11, 1948 in Morristown, NJ to parents Batis and Helen (Pailloz) Fairsnider.  She lived in Boonton Township, NJ and attended Troy Hills Beauty Academy after high school and was a hairdresser for a short time.  She married the love of her life, Ed in 1967 moving to Boonton, NJ and became a homemaker once her daughter and sons were born.  As the kids got older and went to school, she became a school crossing guard in Boonton and worked part-time as a receptionist for Joel Gottlieb, MD, in Dover, NJ. Many will remember her from her over 30 years serving as an ophthalmic technician for Cary M. Silverman, MD/Eyecare 20/20 in Parsippany and then East Hanover, NJ; for over 20 of those years she was able to enjoy working alongside her daughter at Eyecare 20/20. 

Lola was known for her love of giraffes.  She was so excited when she got up close and personal with them. There was no such thing as having too many stuffed giraffes in Lola’s house.  She loved traveling with each of her kids through the years and really liked spending months in Florida with her daughter and son in law.  There was always a craft class going on in her house; Lola was constantly making decorations for her home and work, and presents for birthdays, holidays or someone’s wedding or baby shower.  Lola had more ribbon and flowers around the house than she knew what to do with, but that didn’t stop her from trying to figure it out.  She took up cake decorating which started with making her kids’ birthday cakes and wound up with her making beautiful wedding cakes. She also worked weekends when needed for the family catering business.  She spent many hours at her sons’ sporting events through the years and was continuously washing their uniforms to make them look like new.  She became “Mom” to an extended family consisting of many of her childrens’ friends.  Continuing on that theme, she later became “Mema”, to her grandkids and all of their friends, never missing a game or practice.  She travelled and sat in any and all weather during field hockey, basketball, soccer, baseball, wrestling, football and lacrosse games. She was their biggest supporter and cheering section and always helped behind the scenes with all of their fundraisers. 

Lola is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Edward S. Mitchko, Sr., her three children, who were all her favorite, Christianne Muriano (Dean) of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, Edward S. Mitchko, Jr. (JoAnne) of Florham Park, NJ, Michael S. Mitchko (Diana Stephan) of Boonton, NJ, her extremely loved grandchildren, Jamie Leigh Kreitz, Michael Jake Kreitz, Daniel Patrick Mitchko, Adi K Mitchko and two step-grandchildren, Jack and Annabelle Muriano.  Predeceasing her are her parents Batis Fairsnider, Helen Fairsnider-Tomburro, siblings Margaret Tucker, Shirley Carnogursky-Davis, Bruce Fairsnider, Robert Fairsnider and granddaughter, Bella Sophie.

Family and friends are welcome for memorial visitation on Friday, December 12, 2025 from 3-7 pm at Dangler, Lewis & Carey Funeral Home, 312 West Main Street, Boonton, NJ

In lieu of flowers, if you choose to, memorial contributions can be made in Lola J. Mitchko’s name to St. Jude’s https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude-2.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now or the Giraffe Conservation Foundation https://give.giraffeconservation.org/.   Or you could stop by to see Ed or take him out for a meal.