Marie C. Neander

Marie Catherine Neander (nee-Sansone), 95, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.
Not one to wait for anyone or anything, Marie was born two months early on February 4, 1929, small enough to fit in a cigar box.
Marie grew up in Maplewood, NJ, with her four siblings - Connie, Alfie, Kaki and Danny. They were a tight knit family, and they all looked out for one another. Ever the social butterfly, Marie was close to her cousins and countless friends, often taking trips to the Jersey Shore with her high school friends and getting together with her 'Anchorettes' group.
Over the years, Marie had many jobs. She worked at a local nursing home and at a bank where she was known for her superb organization skills and was a 'banking detective,' who could find anything.
In the early 1950s, while waiting for a group blind date with friends, Herbert Allan Neander walked in. Marie said, "the little one is mine." And he was. Marie and Herb wed on April 19, 1953 and were happily married until his passing in 2012.
Marie was truly the matriarch and the heart and soul of her entire family. She was a dedicated mother to her four daughters - Lori, Cathy, Karen and Gail - coordinating dancing school, recitals, back to school nights, all kinds of sports practices and meets, meals, sleepovers, proms and the list goes on. They took yearly trips to Florida and celebrated holidays with Easter egg hunts, Halloween costumes and piles of presents - evenly high - under the Christmas tree. Marie and Herb sent all four daughters to college, and over the years, Marie planned all the bridal showers. They miraculously hosted all four weddings, welcoming their daughters' husbands, George, Stan, Michael and Steve, into the family.
Marie centered her life around her family, and they cherished her deeply in return. She loved her nine grandchildren and never missed a birthday, holiday, or special event. She regularly called, texted, and saw each one of them, even downloading Instagram to keep up with all the pictures. Marie also loved spending time with her many great grandchildren - from attending countless games and recitals to playing patty cake and watching them grow.
She loved watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune each night after spending her days floating in the pool or reading a book in a lounge chair while being a snowbird in Hollywood, Florida. It was there that she spent her time with her cherished friends at Tiffany, who she thought of as a second family.
As a person and throughout her life, Marie exuded kindness and unconditional love. She helped shape the lives of everyone around her, and she will be genuinely missed by those who knew her.
Survivors include her four daughters: Lori Strunck and her husband, George, Cathy Borysewicz and her husband, Stan, Karen Neander Lyons and her husband, Michael, and Gail VanDeBoe and her husband, Steve; her nine cherished grandchildren: Derrick, Jillian and her husband Eric, Allison and her husband Justin, Erin and her husband Mike, Dana and her fiancé Greg, Kimberly and her wife Candice, Jackie and her husband Steve, Cody and his wife Reanne, and Kyle; fourteen great grandchildren: Raelynn, Skylee, Troy, Taylor, Luke, Cameran, Charlee, Anna, Madelyn, Eleanor, Luna, Nolan, Reed, and Reese; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Memorial Mass on Monday, August 12, 2024, at 11:30 am at Our Lady of Mercy R.C. Church, 90 Whippany Rd., Whippany. Inurnment is at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to No Kid Hungry (https://www.nokidhungry.org) or The Special Olympics (https://www.specialolympics.org). Arrangements are under the direction of the Par-Troy Funeral Home, Parsippany. (973)887-3235.