Marie C. Fernicola

Marie C. Fernicola (née Conway), 90 years old, passed away peacefully at her beloved Allenhurst home surrounded by her loving family on the morning of Thursday, April 30, 2015.

Born in Raven Run, Pennsylvania, Marie was the youngest of the five children of Patrick and Maude Conway.  She was extremely proud that her maternal ancestors had served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

She joined the Cadet Nurses Corps and graduated as a Registered Nurse from Temple University Nursing School in 1945.  She moved to Washington, D.C., where worked on a medical-surgical unit at Georgetown University Hospital, and later worked for the noted neurosurgeons, Drs. Albert Strine, Sr. and Jr. While working as a pediatric nurse at Georgetown, she met her future husband, Dr. Daniel J. Fernicola, who had returned to Georgetown University after serving as an officer in the US Navy from 1942-1946 in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during World War II.  Upon his graduation from Georgetown University Dental School, they were married at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Newark, NJ on August 28, 1950.

They were devoted parents to their seven children, whom they raised in Newark, and in whom they instilled a dedication to higher education. Commencing with her husband and continuing with herself, her children, their spouses and grandchildren, Marie's family earned a total of 15 degrees from Georgetown University and 16 additional advanced degrees.  Once their youngest children were in high school, Marie worked with her husband at his dental office down the street from their Newark home. They loved being together at work and at home, and their greatest pleasure was spending time together with their children.  

      In 1960, they began spending their summers at the Jersey Shore, first in Spring Lake, then Allenhurst. Marie enjoyed many wonderful summers with her family at the Allenhurst Beach Club. In 1983, Daniel and Marie permanently moved to Allenhurst.  She was an avid traveler, journeying with family members to all of the major Western European countries, Russia, the Caribbean, Hawaii and Alaska.

    She was predeceased by her beloved husband in July 1987, her parents and her three brothers, Vincent, Charles, and James. Surviving are her sister, Maude Karwois,  Girardville, PA, and her loving children, Kathleen Malone and Lee Brownne, Carlsbad, CA, Maureen Bowe and her husband William, West Allenhurst, Dr. Charles P. Fernicola and his wife Diane, Forked River, Dr. Marie Pennanen and her husband Kevin, Washington, DC, Dr. Daniel J. Fernicola, Jr. and his wife, Dr. Barbara Butler, Chevy Chase, MD, Dr. Patrick J. Fernicola and his wife, Regina, Fortson, GA, and Paul V. Fernicola and his wife, Margot, Loch Arbour.  She also leaves a brother-in-law, Charles A. Fernicola, Newark, her nieces, LaRue Freeman, Cherry Hill and Joyce Fernicola, Newark, her nephew James Karwois, Falls Church, VA, 10 great nephews and nieces, and her cherished 20 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

She was a faithful Catholic with a special devotion to the Sacred Heart, and longtime parishioner at Saint Mary of the Assumption Church, Deal, attending daily Mass for many years and member of the Cartonian Club. She was active in many Catholic women's organizations including the Catholic Daughters for which she was treasurer, the Red Hat Society, and the Senior Friendship Club of Ocean Township. She was a charter member of the Women's Auxiliary, Columbus Hospital, in Newark, NJ and nurtured many fond memories of her "bandage-rolling group." She was a life-long enthusiastic reader, but she also appreciated a good game of tennis or bowling in mid-life.

Visitation will be held at the Buckley Funeral Home, 509 2nd Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ, on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at Saint Mary of the Assumption Church, 46 Richmond Avenue, Deal, NJ. Internment shall immediately follow at St. Catherine's Cemetery, 1100 W. Chicago Blvd., Sea Girt, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Monmouth Medical Center, Employee Comfort Fund or HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Tinton Falls. For directions or to send a message of condolence, please visit www.buckleyfuneralhome.net.