Obituary of Marie M. Lightfoot

Marie Maurer Lightfoot passed away peacefully on Friday, February 3, 2017 in Morristown, NJ. Known as “Ama” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she shared 100 ½ years of wisdom, love and laughs with her friends and family. Marie was a life-long learner who cherished formal and self-education, playing sports, travel, and spending time with family and friends – especially if the gatherings included good food and drink. She had a twinkle in her eye, a quick and hearty laugh, and a “live and let live” attitude. Marie was born in West New York, NJ to the late Richard G. Eimert and Josephine Becker in 1916. After her father’s sudden death when Marie was 11 ½ years old, the responsibility to support her mother and 1-year old brother fell on her shoulders. Marie’s hard work and determination despite difficult times propelled her to complete high school and to begin a career as a stenographer. Over the course of seven years, Marie worked her way up to the position of executive secretary to the Plant Manager of Lever Brothers company of NJ. She married Fred Maurer in 1944 and they had two children Peter and Susan. She worked as a newspaper reporter for 8 years with the Ridgewood News of NJ and she also served on the Waldwick NJ Board of Education. After 17 years of service, she retired from the Parsippany Troy Hills school system in NJ in 1978 where she was a department head of Social Studies and Language Arts, as well as a former teacher in these areas. Marie obtained a B.A. from William Patterson College in NJ and received her Master’s degree in Education Administration from Montclair State College in NJ. She also had graduate education at Colombia Univ., the Univ. of Oregon, and Seton Hall Univ. Her father’s dream for his daughter to have a college education was realized. In retirement, Marie moved to Little River, SC where she met the love of her life, Harold “Hal” Lightfoot. An avid traveler, Marie visited 49 of the United States, several Canadian provinces, and 14 European countries including Norway, Sweden and Denmark. She also traveled through the Panama Canal and to New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China, and Japan. Marie was an active sports enthusiast and held trophies and medals in tennis, bowling, golf and skiing. She was a charter member of the Ski Club of NJ and the All Souls Waccamaw Unitarian Universal Fellowship in Myrtle Beach, SC. Marie moved back to NJ in 2003 to be closer to her dear daughter Susan J. Englehardt and she enjoyed living at St. Francis Retirement Community in Denville, NJ. While at St. Francis, Marie started book and bridge clubs and enjoyed the discussion and play immensely. During the last year of her life, Marie was well taken care of at Holly Manor in Mendham, where she started another bridge club and became close to several of the residents and care providers. Marie was predeceased by her father Richard, her mother, Josephine, her husband, Fred, her husband Harold and her beloved daughter Susan J. Englehardt (Wayne). She leaves many happy memories to her brother Richard Eimert (Barbara), son Peter Maurer (Judy), and her cherised granddaughters, Jacki Englehardt, Wendi DiCianni (Tom), Jessica Pulliam (Leo McKay), Kasey Travers (BJ), Christine Van Zetta, Lara Maurer, and two step-granddaughters, Christine Knurek and Michelle Fraser. Ama enjoyed her 6 great-grandchildren, Luke and Isabella DiCianni, Eliza and Willow Pulliam, and Susan and Billy Travers. She is also survived by her 7 step great-grandchildren, Sierra, Jordan, Penelope, Damian, Jesse, Garrett, and Trey. She treasured her friendship with a very special caregiver, Lucy Morales and her long-time colleageality with the Brooklawn Babes, a group of retired female school teachers that met regularly for lunch and conversation. Marie has many more dear friends and family near and far that were important to her and with whom she kept in touch. A Memorial Service will be held on February 26th at 1pm in the Club Room at St. Francis Residential Community, 122 Diamond Spring Rd., Denville, NJ 07834. Memorial donations in Marie’s name may be made to St. Francis Residential Community or the Weinstein Inpatient Hospice and Palliative Care Center c/o Foundation for Morristown Medical Center, 475 South Street, 1st Floor, Morristown, NJ 07960.