Elizabeth Cecile Marion, 88, of Spring Lake, N.J. passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, May 23, 2015.
Betty was born and raised in Newark, graduating from Westside High School. She attended Montclair State College and graduated with a degree in teaching. She received her Master’s Degree from New York University in the Supervisory Field of Remedial Reading. She taught for many years in the Essex County Vocational School System and was intimately involved in all labor negotiations during her tenure. Betty ended her career there as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools. She also was an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers University teaching new concepts in the field of Remedial Reading.
Betty and her husband moved to Spring Lake in 1976. As a parishioner of St Catharine-St. Margaret Parish in Spring Lake, Betty served as a Trustee for the parish families for many years. She attended and enriched both the Parish Council and Finance Council meetings as well as planning sessions, budget reviews and study groups. She provided Msgr. Luebking with advice and council that helped bring the parish forward over the years.
Grand Mom Betty enjoyed spending time with her children, their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed following current events and was especially interested in world wide government and politics. She loved horse racing and summers at Saratoga Race Track where she had club house seats. She enjoyed travelling and fondly recalled trips to Europe, the Middle East, Hawaii, California and two favorites, St. Augustine and New Orleans. She worried about everyone in the family both near and far from the youngest to the oldest. She had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary and put all her prayers for family and friends into the hands of the Blessed Mother. We will all miss her unconditional love, enduring compassion and enthusiasm for life. God Bless You Grammy !
Betty was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, Paul D. Marion in 1991. She also lost her beloved granddaughter, Jessica Barrett Marion in 1990 and a loving daughter-in-law, Maria Rifici Marion in 1997. She was also predeceased by her parents, Angelo and Florence Pecci, and three sisters, Florence Cantwell, Barbara Boyle, Helen Hauke and a special niece, Kathleen Cantwell.
Mrs. Marion is survived by her three children Paul D. Marion, Jr., West Allenhurst, N.J., Kenneth E. and his wife Nancy Marion, Spring Lake Heights, N.J. and Elizabeth A. and her husband Michael Bradbury ,Spring Lake, N.J. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, Michael Bradbury, John and his wife Colleen Marion, Christine and her husband Jeff Enden, Sarah and her husband, Brian Cipolletti and Emily Marion and her fiancé Casey Woods. Betty was the loving great grandmother of Lilly, Connor, Anthony, Maxwell, Tamra and Isabelle She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A special Thank You to Elizabeth Gyimah, Ma’s companion and caregiver for the past three years who treated her with love , compassion and respect.
Visiting will be on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, from 4-8 PM at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Highway 35, Wall, N.J. Friends will gather on Thursday morning at 9:30 AM at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10:30 AM at St. Catharine Catholic Church, 215 Essex Avenue, Spring Lake, N.J. Interment will take place on Friday at 11 AM at St. Gertrude’s Cemetery, Colonia, N.J. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Betty’s name may be made to Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity, 780 Ridge Rd., Lackawanna, N.Y. 14218-1682.
For further information or to send condolences to the family please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com

Affiliations