Mary Ann Crouse

Mary Ann (Yuill) Crouse
September 18th, 1934 – March 25th, 2023
Obituary written by Mary Ann Crouse
On a beautiful spring morning as the early risers outside my bedroom window are chirping, the morning sun beams are peeking through the clouds, birds about their morning rituals, a gentle cool breeze, golden light everywhere, covering natural and man-made creations, full of beauty and magic, filled with the promise of a new beginning, I left this earth on Saturday, March 25th, 2023, as you all knew me. I was visited by Angels and was given my wings for my journey to meet St. Peter and to be reborn (my new beginning) into the Kingdom of Heaven with my Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes, I went peacefully with family, friends, and Father Brady by my side as we said our prayers and goodbyes as I gathered my thoughts and waited for the Angels to escort me to heaven. A place that is filled with peace, joy, praise, and everlasting love. Although I will miss sharing my time on earth with family and friends as they will miss me, rest assured, I am in a place without pain or suffering and rejoicing with those that predeceased me and to continue serving our Lord in his Kingdom and watching
over the loved ones I left behind.
My first sunrise was on September 18th, 1934, in Orange, New Jersey and was the only child of my father, Andrew Theodore Yuill and my mother Harriette Gertrude (Stiles) Yuill. I had a normal childhood and was raised Catholic. I received my 1st Communion May of 1943, and was Confirmed June of 1949. I attended public schools and graduated from East Orange High School 1952.
On September 27th, 1952, I married the love of my life, Robert James Crouse. He was my everything, my husband, my lover, my partner in crime, my traveling companion, business partner, and my best friend. When my father passed away unexpectedly on September 16th, 1958, I was blessed when Robert invited my mother to live with us and help us raise our family until her death on November 23rd, 1992. A beautiful and wonderful person, mother, and friend she was, and our family was blessed to have her in our lives for so many years. Robert and I have been married for seventy-one years and have fulfilled the vows we took in 1952 without missing a beat. Together we had seven beautiful children, Michael, Debbie, Mary Beth, Robin, Howard, Dorrie, and Jenny and what a family we had. Never a dull moment, good times, sad times, and a few bad ones along the way. But nothing we could not handle. Today, I have been blessed with twenty-one Grand Children, thirty-two Great-Grand Children and yes one Great, Great Grand Child that is now known as the Crouse family that I love unconditionally.
Over the years, I experienced several heartbreaks, with the passing of my father, Andrew Theodore Yuill and my mother Harriette Gertrude (Stiles) Yuill, my Father-in-Law, Howard C. Crouse, my Mother-in-Law, Mary Dorothy (Mooney) Crouse, my Sister-in-Law, Patricia Hreha, my oldest Daughter, Deborah Ann Crouse, my Grand Daughters Sherry Lynn Crouse, and Shannon Marie (Crouse) Rose and our favorite pet dogs, Sorrowful and Boomer.
I did not live a perfect life, but it was complete with all of the ups and downs, twists and turns of a rollercoaster ride and I would not change a thing. I owned and operated a small business (MAYRAC) with my husband and participated in the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners Association where I held local, state, and national positions in the organization and was awarded the Teal Heart Award in 1993 and was named 1998 Businesswomen of the Year for the Monmouth County Chapter.
I knew without a shadow of a doubt from a young age that God exists. I was blessed with a Christian family and grew up learning from my parents, my Priest and my church family, the biblical truths that shape my life.
My personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ began at an early age and my journey to know him better continued every day. I never imagined my life without God. The choice to live for the Lord and base my decisions on his plan and his desires for me is my deepest, most fundamental principle. I tried to serve the Lord in many ways and keep my faith genuine each day. I was a Religious Education Teacher and Coordinator in Ascension Church in Bradley Beach, moved on to work with the "Rainbows For All God's Children" program in Monmouth & Ocean Counties and was appointed Eucharist Minister of Ascension Parish that included the Pastoral and Hospice Care Unit at Jersey Shore Medical Center and local nursing homes. It was a blessing to me and in my small way, as I wanted to give something back. When I read my Bible, I learned more each day about the kind of person God wanted me to be; a person of integrity, honesty, and optimism and these were principles that I tried to manifest in my life. In 2002 in recognition of my many years of loving devotion to our parish, the Church of Ascension, I received an "Apostolic Blessing" from his Holiness, John Paul II.
Throughout my time with family and friends, we shared so many great memories. Watching my children getting married and having families. The Holidays too were always a fun time for the family. With Christmas always being special throughout the years. Family gatherings for Sunday Dinners and Summer BBQs were always fun and at times interesting to say the least. Traveling throughout the United States and Europe were never a disappointment and the many times in Las Vegas with Robert were always special (what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas – Just saying). And don't forget all of those Cruises I/We took over the years, especially the ones over the last few years. What a blast we had! I thank all of you for all of those great memories and for making sure I completed my bucket list!
For living through these eighty-nine seasons with my parents, my loving husband, my seven children and the rest of the Crouse clan and all of the friends I had along the way and the experiences we shared together made me a better person and hopefully someone you cared for and loved. I am hopeful that I made things better than I found them along the way for all of you.
I am survived by my Children Michael J. Crouse and his wife Brenda Crouse, Mary Beth Warhurst and her Husband Allan Warhurst. Robin Wicks and her husband Arnold Wicks, Howard Crouse, and his wife Cindy Vernotico-Crouse, Dorrie Heil and her husband David Heil, Jenny Murray her husband Bob Murray and twenty-one (21) Grandchildren, thirty-two (32) Great Grandchildren and one (1) Great, Great Grandchild with Michael assuming the role of the Patriarch of the Crouse Family as the family will carry on in my memory as my soul will continue living through all of you.
So please don't mourn or cry over my passing (OK maybe just a little), but know I am in a place with no pain or suffering, and I am with predeceased family, friends, pets, and our Lord Jesus Christ here in Heaven. And together, we will continue to love and watch over all of you until we meet again.
What a Great Journey we had – God Bless
There will be a "Celebration of My Life" Service (Funeral Mass) for Family and Friends at the Parish of St. Teresa of Calcutta Church (Ascension Worship Site) 501 Brinley Ave, Bradley Beach, NJ from 11:00 to 12:00 on Thursday, May 11th, 2023. This will give my family and friends an opportunity to gather to share our favorite memories and tell stories, sharing in laughter and tears, and simply celebrating the life that we lived together. My remains will be laid to rest with my husband Robert at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Burial will be private for immediate family.