Joshua Michael Broadhurst

Joshua Michael Broadhurst, 24, of Long Valley, NJ full of heart, humor, promise and incredible potential, left the loving arms of his family into the embrace of our Heavenly Father suddenly on Friday, December 6, 2019 after battling the evil disease of addiction.
Delivered by a midwife from Fiji, Josh, the first of five siblings, was born to Mark and Maria Broadhurst on January 15, 1995 on the beautiful island of Saipan, in the U.S. territory of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Perhaps since he was born on a tropical island in the Pacific, Josh had a lifetime love of the beach - the sea, the sand and the sun, this is where Josh felt at peace.
Josh was a graduate of West Morris Central High School where for some of those years he played soccer and baseball and on a lot of those days, much to the chagrin of his teachers, found himself somewhere other than his classroom! He was most recently employed as a server at the Cheesecake Factory in Rockaway, NJ. Prior to this, he worked in retail and provided independent coaching in bodybuilding. He received his confirmation at Trinity United Methodist Church in Hackettstown where during high school he served as a 5 th grade Sunday School teacher's aide and sang in the Trinity Singers choir.
Josh was well known at Gold's Gym in Hackettstown where he worked out nearly every day. He was a disciplined "food prepper" who seemed to never tire of grilled chicken, rice and broccoli. Although he was a healthy eater, boy did he love a good binge day. He had a fierce sweet tooth and loved to eat his mom's homemade cookies and chocolate cake, his grandma's brownies, and could not pass a jar of Nutella without finishing it off.
Josh was a charming, sweet boy and had a large circle of friends from school, sports, skateboarding, work and the gym. He was known for his kind, gentle ways and was loyal to the people and causes he loved as the day is long. His dry wit and sense of humor were legendary, especially among his sisters, whom he adored and protected as big brothers should.
Josh's bright smile and dark, piercing eyes attracted many - but his love and devotion was saved for three special relationships over the years, Sarah Pollack, Beki Bozzone, and Gina Grek, each of whom played an important role in his life and provided a compass during his struggles.
But perhaps no one inspired Josh to be his best more than his sisters and brother, all of whom still light up when talking about their big brother and remembering his special ways, his playful teasing, his caring words, his hilarious facial expressions, his giant hugs, his voracious appetite, his quiet determination, his enormous heart, and his deep and abiding love for his family. All of them looked up to Josh, but he never looked down on them - he always boosted them up, the first to say a good word and show his pride in their achievements.
Heartbroken and devastated but grateful for their brief time together, Josh is survived by his loving parents; Mark and Maria Broadhurst of Long Valley, his beautiful younger siblings; Alyssa, Sarah, Emily and Matthew Broadhurst, all at home; his paternal grandmother; Isabel Broadhurst, of Independence Township; his maternal grandparents Susana and Felixberto Elumba of Pasig, Philippines; his aunt Fe D'Andrea and family of Hollywood, FL; his uncle Bertson Elumba and family of Pasig, Philippines; his Suzanne Manalo and family of Pasig, Philippines; his uncle Michael Broadhurst and family of Reston, VA; his uncle Paul Markowitz, of Hackettstown; his aunt Noreen Elston and family of Phillipsburg; his Aunt Melba and family Belvedere, his cousins Anthony, Dillon, John Paul, Seychelles, Therese, and Patricia, of Hollywood, FL; cousins Logan and Liam of Reston, VA; cousins Alyannah, Zekie, Brianna of Pasig, Philippines; cousins MJ and Daniel of Pasig, Philippines. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather; Walter Broadhurst, and his great grandmothers; Helen Markowitz and Jean Broadhurst.
His family will honor Josh by fighting through its grief and pain just as he fought his disease and lived with the daily pain of addiction. It won't be easy, but neither was his fight.
Family and friends may pay their respects on Friday, December 13, 2019 from 4-8PM at the Maguire-Scala Memorial Home, 124 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 213 Main Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. Burial will follow service at Pequest Union Cemetery in Great Meadows, NJ
We are compelled to take action to try to prevent yet another family from experiencing this pain we are suffering. We don’t know exactly what our calling will be, but we will be working with Trinity to establish a ministry that caters to families coping with a loved one who is suffering from addiction. Memorial Gifts can be made in Joshua’s name to Trinity United Methodist Church, 213 Main Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840, and over the coming months, we will determine how those funds can best be used to help other families. Your gifts are tremendously appreciated.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Maguire-Scala Memorial Home.