Memorial service for Gwen Moore

VERNON — Karen Nelson believes most people who knew her daughter, Gwendolynn Moore, will remember her for her wit. “She was the funniest girl,” Nelson said, “and she would completely light up the room when she came in.”

That light was extinguished far too early when 29-year-old Gwen Moore died in a plane crash in the south of France on Friday, July 13. Nelson was at work that day when she was notified of the sudden and unexpected loss of her daughter, who she called vibrant, effervescent and in the prime of her life.

Gwen was one of three crew members aboard a twin-engine Gulfstream IV jet, which belonged to a charter company known as Universal Jet Aviation. The plane had taken a group of passengers from London to Nice, but there was not room at that airport to park the plane for a layover, so the pilot was attempting to land the plane at Castellet Airport, near Toulon, France. The plane crashed just short of the runway.

Although the incident is still under investigation, it appears one of the wings was shorn off and the plane exploded on impact, killing Gwen and the two other American crew members.

Gwen worked as a flight attendant with Universal Jet Aviation for the past two years. The company is based in Boca Raton, Fla., and has locations at Teterboro, Van Nuys, Calif., and London, England.

Nelson said her daughter flew to Europe frequently for her job, and also went to South America and destinations all over the world. “Gwen loved going places and seeing new things,” she said.

Gwen lived in Vernon with her family most of her life and attended the Vernon Township Schools, along with sisters Megan and Gabrielle, and brother Ronan. For the last five years, Gwen lived in Parsippany.

Nelson said the family has still not received Gwen’s remains from France, as the investigation is ongoing. However, she said the FBI obtained dental records and DNA samples for a positive identification.

Nelson also said the State Department of Overseas Citizens, as well as the New York Passport Agency have both been extremely helpful, accommodating and sensitive to her situation during this difficult time. She said they contacted her offering to help her obtain an expedited passport in case she needed to go to France right away. But so far, a trip to France has not been necessary and Nelson has been focusing on planning a memorial service for her daughter.

The service A memorial service will be held this Saturday, Aug. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Ferguson Vernon Funeral Home. Friends may visit with the family prior to the service, from 10 to 11 am.

Gwen was an animal lover and devoted her free time to volunteering at a Morris County Animal Shelter. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations in Gwen’s name to a local animal shelter.