Marilyn Elizabeth Picher (éee Laureys), age 94. Born on December 22, 1930 in Hoboken, NJ. Married to Jack Picher (predeceased) in 1994. Loving mother of Jeff Picher (Heather), Laurey Stalley (Fred), Sherry Carlson, Greg Picher (Arlene). Grandmother of Daniel Lattanzi (Courtney), Ali Gianetti (Mikey), Tammy Corra (Mike), Keri Kublin (Ryan Russell), Jonathan Picher (Kara), Keith Picher, Brett Picker, and step grandchildren; Sarah, Kalina and Elise and their families, and Sven, Christina and Nicola and their families, and Heather and her family. Great-grandchildren; Kylee Kublin, Tabby Corra, Summer Corra, Fiona Kublin, Isla Lattanzi, and Quinn Picher. Aunt of Bob and Kathy Renner. Predeceased by father Louis Laureys, mother Florence Laureys, and sister Ethel Vuolo.
Marilyn resided in River Edge, NJ for 63years where she raised her family, and her last residence was at The Windmere in North Haledon, NJ where she was lovingly cared for these last 8 years. She was a servant of the Lord her entire life, ministering to so many people along her journey. She was active at her Church of the Savior Lutheran Church in Paramus, NJ, where she was a nursery school teacher for 28 years, and a leader with her dear friend, Carol Conrad, in women’s groups; Women of Faith and Circle of Friends. She was a volunteer at Bergen Pines Hospital for many years and conducted shut-in services for the patients there once per month at Church of the Savior. She graduated from Bergen Community College in 1992 with a degree in Early Childhood Education and tutored students at the college in Trigonometry and Calculus. She also took Early Childhood Education classes at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. She was a Stephens Minister for many years and a hospice volunteer for the Pascack Valley Chapter of Hospice. She was the president of the PTA at Roosevelt Elementary School in River Edge, NJ. Marilyn and Jack were coaches for the R.E.G.A.L., River Edge Girl’s Athletic League for many years for their daughters’ softball team, The Orioles. She served as a volunteer for the homeless shelter in Hackensack, NJ, and made sausage and peppers every month for the residents at the shelter. Marilyn was an avid bowler. She bowled on a Monday night women’s league at the Bowl-A-Drome in River Edge, NJ, and bowled with Jack in a mixed league as well. Marilyn was an avid ping pong player, and had Jack build her a ping pong room in the garage for the whole family to play. Marilyn enjoyed family time sitting around the black and white TV watching The Lawrence Welk Show with her mom, Dolly, having root beer floats, and mom would lovingly scratch all our backs. A classic Mom memory. She traveled to California many times to visit her daughter, Laurey, and took a trip with her to Belgium to see where her father lived in Antwerp, and they then traveled on to Paris, where they stayed at The Place des Vosges and visited all the sights. A trip she hesitated to take because she would miss Vacation Bible School. And, in her own words: I pray that my death will be peaceful, with family and friends nearby. I hope I will be able to speak to them and remind them to stay close to the Lord and to each other. (I have to have the last word.) I would assure them of our reunion in Heaven and ask them to celebrate my life here and the dawn of my new life with Jesus and all my loved ones.
In my obituary I would like to be remembered for my trust in God, and that I did my best to love and care for His people. An epitaph could be—She touched many lives with the love of Jesus. I would like my family and friends to know this quote from Morrie, “As long as we can love each other and remember the feeling of that love we had, we can die without ever going away. All the love you created is still there. And memories of you live on in the hearts of everyone you’ve touched and nurtured while you were here. Death ends a life—not a relationship.”
Well said, Marilyn! We will honor your wishes and your legacy by living and loving well and staying close to the Lord and each other. So long, Marilyn. See you, again, in Heaven.
A celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held on Wednesday, December 10th, 3:00 – 5:00 PM and 7:00 – 9:00 PM at the Beaugard-McKnight Funeral Home, 869 Kinderkamack Road, River Edge, NJ. The Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, December 11th at Church of the Savior, 643 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ. Marilyn will be laid to rest at Hillside Cemetery, Lyndhurst, NJ.
If you wish to make a donation in Marilyn’s honor, she would appreciate you consider The Church of the Savior Lutheran at 643 Forest Avenue in Paramus, New Jersey 07652 or any Alzheimer related charities.