Marie Reddick

1931 - 2018

Marie Reddick

Belmar - Marie Teresa Reddick (nee Bannon), 86, of Belmar, NJ passed away surrounded by her family on June 18, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. Her beloved Ray was awaiting their joyful reunion.

Mary, known as Marie to friends and family, was the matriarch of the Reddick family. A woman of profound faith, she was always grateful to God, bestowing blessings upon all she encountered. She embodied Christ and never failed to give Him praise. Her keen observant eyes, bright with joy, will be sorely missed, especially on the first Saturday of each month when she hosted the long running family-fun-night.

Proudly raised in Brooklyn, NY, Marie was the elder of the two darling girls of John F. & Teresa V. (nee McElligott) Bannon. As a child, she attended Holy Family School. She enjoyed attending the World's Fair, riding the trolley and visiting local museums. She graduated from Bay Ridge HS in 1949, and then went on to work at William Esty Co. Advertising, where she had chance encounters with actors Lou Costello and Ralph Bellamy. While there, she began a pen-paI relationship with a Navy Seaman named Raymond Reddick from Lake Parsippany, NJ. In November 1954, they married, embarking on a journey together of nearly 61 years. While busy raising 11 children, she found time to knit and crochet countless afghans, bake Irish Soda bread, whose taste eclipsed all others, and to nurture deep relationships with countless friends. She was a member of St. Leo's Parish in Irvington for 42 years, taught CCD, was a Eucharistic Minister and worked at the rectory. She later worked for the Archdiocese of Newark, in the Marriage Encounter program. She never feared new challenges, be it getting her driver's license at the age of 51, attending Essex CC for college credit, running 5Ks with her husband, trying exercise yoga & tai chi. From Irvington, she moved to Belmar where, the "little red hen" as her children came to call her, worked tirelessly in her award-winning flower garden. She enjoyed sharing with her children and grandchildren lovingly detailed stories about her childhood, peppered with her unique colloquialisms that they still use today; "For heaven's sakes", "You're a Nutsy Fagin", "May the dear Lord bless you", "Don't be a Dopey Dildock","Isn't that the dickens", "Thanks be to God" & "Bless us and save us said Mrs. O'Davis" and many more. The daily crossword and word jumble were her delight, along with black & white movies on TCM. She was an active member of the Church of the Ascension in Bradley Beach, especially with the Prayer Shawl ministry. She volunteered at Manor By The Sea in Ocean Grove, as well as Meals on Wheels.

She was predeceased by her husband Raymond, her third son, John of Tampa, Fla., and her angel in heaven, granddaughter, Francesca. Marie, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, will be deeply missed by her sons, Gary (Tracy), Raymond (Michele), Christopher (Karen) and Matthew (Catalina); her daughters, Sharon Varacchi, Geralyn Guida (Gary), Kathleen Clark (Randall), Theresa Bigotto (Stephen), Aileen Ryan, Sheelagh Evans (Mark); 16 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren, her sister, Joan B. Mc Cormick; her sister-in-law Valeria Nappa, 10 nieces and nephews, and many extended family members, as well as dear friends. In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Francis Society of Ascension R.C. Church would be appreciated.

Visitation will be on Friday June 22 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM, at Reilly-Bonner Funeral Home in Belmar. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:30 AM at the Church of the Ascension in Bradley Beach. Committal will follow at Saint Anne Cemetery, Wall Twp.