Margaret Eyres Bien

(Asbury Park Press)

MARGARET EYRES
BIEN
AGE: 87 ABERDEEN
Margaret Eyres Bien, 87, died peacefully in her sleep on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 26, 2009, in her home in Aberdeen. Margaret was born in Ballywillan, Ireland in 1922. She immigrated to the United States with her parents and two of her sisters in 1927 and settled in Newark. There, she met and married her lifetime sweetheart, Frank Bien, in 1940. They lived in Newark for many years, where they raised Margaret's younger siblings, Janet and Bill, after the death of their mother. In 1967, they moved "over the bridge" to Madison Township and settled in Aberdeen in 2002. In 2007, Margaret celebrated her 85th birthday with a visit to her birthplace in Ireland after 80 years. She enjoyed visiting her many cousins and the places she so keenly remembered from her childhood, like her homestead, her father's pub and the train station where they started their journey to the United States. Margaret loved her life, her family, her many friends and neighbors and her faith. Margaret was a parishioner at St. Mary's Church, Colts Neck, where she was a regular at 9 a.m. mass on Friday and 7:45 a.m. mass on Sunday. She was a homemaker, an avid reader, loved movies and treasured her family photos and the people in them. She appreciated the simple things and moments in life and inspired those around her to do the same.
Margaret was predeceased by her husband, Frank; and her sister, Mazie Bartholomew. She is survived by her brother, Bill Eyres and his wife Carol of Colts Neck; and her sister, Janet Quinn of Downingtown, Pa. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews who loved her dearly.
Visitation for family and friends will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 at St. Mary's Church, Colts Neck. A Memorial Mass will immediately follow at 9 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please honor the example of Margaret's life by doing a kind deed, saying a kind word, saying a prayer for someone or just smile and say "Hi" to a stranger during the Christmas season. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold. Condolences and tributes may be sent to www.higginsmemorialhome.com.