Cedar Grove Obitutary: Marie DeBuys

Longtime Cedar Grove resident Marie DeBuys passed away on Oct. 4.

She was 99-years-old.

The following obituary comes courtesy of Shook’s Cedar Grove Funeral Home:

“Marie A. DeBuys, 99, of Cedar Grove, N.J., passed away on October 4, 2015, surrounded by her loved ones at Bentley Assisted Living in Branchville, N.J.

“Marie, who was known by many names but remains somewhat of an adored mystery even to her closest family, was known affectionately to her family as the ‘Peacock’ because she could strut.

“Born Anna Marie Vendola on April 26, 1916, in Lyndhurst, NJ. Except for a few meaningful months she spent in Minnesota as a young lady and weekends in later years at her camper in the Poconos, where she was a camp favorite, Marie, also known as Mary or Gram, lived and worked in New Jersey her entire life, and worked well into her 80s. In addition to being a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was an extraordinary seamstress, chef and care-giver to young and old alike. Even during her retirement years she held multiple jobs, and when she finally did retire at the age of 88, she left three jobs, including as cook for the sisters living at St. Catherine of Siena in Cedar Grove and caregiver to two friends and neighbors younger than herself.

“For years, Marie was the shoulder upon which one of these neighbors with Parkinson’s leaned heavily as he struggled up the stairs to turn in at night, a testament to Marie’s strength throughout her life. The only thing that outmatched her strength, both physical and emotional, was her infinite capacity to love.

“For 50 years, Marie resided in Cedar Grove, where she raised her family. She taught her children and their children how to love, laugh and be strong. She taught her daughters and granddaughters in particular how to speak up and stand up for themselves after learning how to deal with adversity and hardship herself first-hand. But, despite her toughness, and through even the toughest times, she loved a good joke, and neither repetition nor irreverence subdued her contagious laughter. Even as she lay sleeping during her last few days, she could be heard chuckling periodically as though she had dreamed of a punch line.

“She is survived by her daughters, Sabina and Larry Anderson, Agnes Rizzo and Don Prout, and Tami Halloran and Charles Eggers; her sons, Robert, and April DeBuys, and Russell and Sue DeBuys; and her ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, Amelia and James Vendola; her husband, Robert ‘Bob’ DeBuys; her daughter Maria DeBuys-Haszonics; and her siblings Mildred, Arnold, Ralph, Jimmy, Frankie and Joe.”

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