Marcella Griffin Hanafin

(Courier News)

MARCELLA GRIFFIN HANAFIN
AGE: 83 BRANCHBURG
Marcella Griffin Hanafin, 83, passed away Saturday July 24, 2010 at the Rolling Hills Care Center in Clinton Twp., NJ. Born on May 11, 1927 in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mrs. Hanafin was the daughter of Francis E. and Catherine T. Finnegan Griffin. Mrs. Hanafin never forgot her roots remaining a life-long supporter of her alma mater, The Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls in Philadelphia. She met her future husband, Paul Hanafin, at a dance not far from Villanova where he was a student. When Marcella broke her own rule of no more than one date per week to spend more time with the dashing future army office, her friends and family knew immediately he was "the one". Marcella married Lt. Paul Hanafin at Immaculate Conception Church, Germantown, Pennsylvania in May, 1952. Together they founded PyMaH Corporation, a medical device manufacturing business. The fledgling business was initially set up in the Hanafin family home in Branchburg Township which allowed them to tap into a ready source of manpower, their five children. Soon the business outgrew the family basement, moving to Raritan, New Jersey, and while continuing to acquire other medical device manufacturing businesses including Info-Chem and BioMedical Sciences in Fairfield, NJ and ATI in North Hollywood, California,. Upon Paul's passing in May, 1988, Mrs. Hanafin assumed full control of PyMaH Corporation. In October, 1996 Mrs. Hanafin sold PyMaH, by then headquartered in Flemington, New Jersey, to 3M. As a member of the Circumnavigators Club, Marcella traveled extensively. When not traveling the globe, often with one of her grandchildren in tow, Mrs. Hanafin focused on her philanthropic work setting up scholarships and educational opportunities for students in all walks of life. She derived great satisfaction in being an active member of the Somerset County Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) at Raritan Valley Community College, mentoring other business owners starting or expanding their business. In 1992, Mrs. Hanafin was the first woman honored by the Health Industry Manufacturer's Association (HIMA) with the Chairman's Award. In 1994, Mrs. Hanafin was honored by the Rolling Hills Girl Scouts with their Women of Achievement Award. Among the many awards Mrs. Hanafin received, she was most proud of being honored by the Diocese of Metuchen receiving the Founders Award at the Annual Bread & Roses Ball on April 25, 2009. This honor was bestowed on her due to her long-standing involvement and commitment to the Diocese of Metuchen and the work of the Catholic Church. Because of Mrs. Hanafin's generosity, parishes were renovated, scholarships are funded and disadvantaged high school students are able to receive a Catholic education.
Besides her beloved husband, Paul, Mrs. Hanafin was predeceased by her infant son, Stephen; her sister, Kay Stambaugh; and brother, Francis E. Griffin. Surviving Mrs. Hanafin are: daughter, Frances Elliott, and her husband, Ed, of Sedona, Arizona; son, Bernard (Ben) and his wife, Laurie of Annandale, New Jersey; son, Gregory, and his wife Rose of Livonia, New York; daughter, Jeanette Frey and husband, Leo, of Annandale, New Jersey; and son, Karl, and his wife, Ellen of Geneseo, New York. Mrs. Hanafin is also survived by her loving grandchildren: Elizabeth, Erika, Danielle, Joseph, Erin, James, Jennifer, Lauren, Brielle, Maggie, Claire and Paul. She will be remembered fondly by a host of nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be at Scarponi-Bright Funeral Home, 26 Main Street, Lebanon, New Jersey, (908-236-2520) Wednesday, July 28 2-4 and 7-9 pm and Thursday morning at 9:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, 500 Route 22 East, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807 (908-725-0552) Thursday, July 29 at 10:00 am followed by internment at St. Bernard's Cemetery adjacent to the church. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 2500 Adams Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania 18509-1597.The family requests that no perfume, colognes or scents be worn to the viewing or funeral due to allergies.