Obituary for Margaret R. Cooney Margaret (Marge) Roach Cooney was born on March 24th, 1923 in Newark, NJ to Mary Hanrahan Roach and Thomas Roach. She had two siblings: Frank and Edward, and three step-siblings: James O’Connell, Helen O’Connell, and Thomas Roach. She attended St. Rose of Lima Grammar School and completed a Commercial Course of Study at St. Rose of Lima School.
She started working at the Fireman’s Insurance Company when she was 16 and later moved to another insurance company as a receptionist, where she once so impressed an executive with her skills for handling a busy switchboard by herself, that she was given a raise the same day. She met the dashing John Joseph Cooney at Fireman’s and from there began their love story. Marge and John had 5 children (John F, Cheryl Gerwig, Marilyn Vasboe, Margaret Fox, and Joan), who they raised in a small, one story home in Union Beach, NJ.
They later moved to Old Bridge, NJ. Marge was the family chef, housekeeper, book keeper, disciplinarian (although she pretended that role was John’s), and financial magician who was able to keep a family of 7 adequately clothed and fed on a small monthly income without credit cards, which would be unheard of in today’s world. She ruled a strict, well-kept home, requiring that her children chip in with the family chores, instilling a sense of sense of responsibility early on.
She once turned down a dish washer in their new Old Bridge home, telling the salesman she already had five of them. (Luckily for the kids, they did get the dishwasher anyhow). Marge also held various jobs over the years, including caterer (she could make a mean potato salad and coleslaw), cashier at Loew’s Drive-in on Route 35, store clerk at Family Circle and Woolco, and receptionist/administrative assistant at her family parish, St. Ambrose Church.
After John died in 1980, Marge never remarried but she enjoyed visiting with her 10 grandchildren (Diane Cooney, Michele Pacyna and husband Scott, John Cooney and wife Shelley, Mark Gerwig and wife Jenn, Audrey Dixey and husband John, James Cooney, Michael Gerwig, Kerry Vasboe Peach and husband Kevin, Shannon Robertson and husband Chris, and Brian Vasboe) and eventually 10 great grandchildren (Carolina Gerwig, Isabella Pacyna, Julia Cooney, August Gerwig, Cooper Gerwig, John Cooney, Hudson Gerwig, Vaughan Pacyna, Mackenzie Dixey, and Mikayla Dixey). Her 11th great grandchild (Meryl Marie Peach) was born days before her passing. Marge was an avid reader, even as she got on in years.
She also enjoyed outings with her local “woman’s club” with other widowed and divorced women in the area, and was able to travel thanks to her geographically dispersed family and the Old Bridge seniors. Marge stayed in her own home until she was one month shy of her 93rd birthday. After a fall, she moved into The Elms of Cranbury.
Marge mellowed over the years and was a very sweet and gentle older woman, continuing to demonstrate her sense of humor to the end. Our hearts are broken that our matriarch is gone, but we know she is in a better place with her husband John and daughter Marilyn. We will miss her incredibly.
She had a very long run, outliving all of her peers, and we wish her a peaceful rest. For those wishing to make a donation in Margaret’s name you can do so to Memorial Sloan Kettering by visiting giving.
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