Marie Comiskey's Obituary
Marie was born at home in Union City New Jersey into a religious family. Family and friends were always important to Marie. She lived in a two family house with her mother's brother (Uncle Leonard) living down stairs with her grandmother and great grandmother. The community at that time revolved around Monastery and Church of Saint Michael the Archangel run by the Passionists. Her father John Phillip Heffernan had passed away when Marie was just 8 years old leaving her Mother and younger brother John Francis Heffernan to be raised by her mother and their extended family. Marie spoke often of Saint Michaels and the Passionist fathers. She attended both Saint Michael's grammar school and High school forging lifelong relationships. She often talked about the group of 7 girls who would walk with each other to school and keep in touch with all of them throughout her life. I believe Marie was the longest living member of the group. Marie was married for over sixty years to her husband Jack. The two met by chance on the board walk in Asbury Park New Jersey during the summer of 1943. Marie had just graduated from high school. The two dated while Jack joined the Marines and served in the Pacific theater during WWII. Marie attended secretarial school in New York landing a job in the secretarial pool at Shelf Oil in Manhattan. There Marie met here friend of 70 years, Marion McQuiston, often referring to Marion as her sister. Jack and Marie married in 1948 and lived in North Bergen, New Jersey before moving to Wood Ridge. They adopted their son Jackie in 1959. Marie was a homemaker raising Jackie and involved in The Church of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady in Wood Ridge. Jack and Marie along with Jackie moved to Crystal Lake, Illinois for Jack's work. After several years in Illinois, Jack retired and they moved to Deltona, Florida. They built a new home in Deltona and made new friends. Bernice Seward was one of the first people Marie met and they remained true friends for over thirty years. Marie loved to play cards and board games. When her son Jackie was killed by a drunk driver She joined Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and was an active member. She was an active member of Our Lady of the Lakes Council of Catholic Woman. Marie had many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. Her brother John had a family of six boys and two girls. Marie always welcomed them into her home. Her parties always grew by 10 when the Heffernan's arrived. Marie always loved talking with her different nieces and nephews, wanting to know the latest news on each one. She was god mother to several. Marie was true to her faith. She was always someone you could ask and get a good explanation on religious doctrine, knew about all the different religious orders and always reminded you ofthe lesser known holy days. It was her way of educating you.
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