Marianna T. Cronrath, 67, of Hazlet passed away peacefully, surrounded by loving family Sept. 29. Daughter of the late Angelo and Marianna Alfano, she was born Aug. 27, 1951 in Newark. A lifelong Hazlet resident, she graduated from Raritan High School, the University of Bridgeport with a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, and from Fairleigh Dickinson University with an MPA.
Marianna devoted her life to caring for others. Starting her professional career at Schering-Plough Corporation as a lab chemist, she developed a desire to heal others with her work. She served on the Board of Drug Abuse Services and was vice chair for the Monmouth County Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services. Later she worked as a pharmaceutical consultant before opening her own international consultancy with clients around the world. Mrs. Cronrath was the principal consultant for Gatewood Organization, LLC for 22 years before retiring in 2017. As a classically trained pianist, she taught piano lessons for many years, enriching the lives of the children in the community.
A genuine friend to so many, she was known for sending cards for all occasions to all who knew her. An avid fan of the comic strips, she always had a smile on her face, with a positive outlook on life. Marianna’s collection of angel figurines is a reminder that she was truly an angel on Earth, who earned her wings and has been lifted up to heaven.
Marianna was predeceased by her beloved husband William Cronrath Jr. She is survived by her sons William Cronrath III; Peter Cronrath and his wife Nancy; two grandchildren, Michael and Brayden Cronrath, her little angels; a sister Victoria Lincoln-Rowson; two brothers, Joseph Alfano and his wife Betty, and Marc Alfano and his wife Valerie; nieces Rebecca Lincoln-Rowson, Angela Alfano and her husband Michael O’Brien; nephews Anthony Alfano, Michelangelo Alfano and Giovanni Alfano, her chickadees. She will be greatly missed by her family.
Visitation took place Oct. 4 at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral service for family and friends took place Oct. 5 at The Church of St. Catherine Laboure, Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in memory of Marianna T. Cronrath be made to The Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts, Attn: Sr. Deirdre M. Byrne, POSC, Superior, 3620 15th St. NE, Washington, DC 20017.
