Fordham, Marie Catherine, Age: 83, Westover, Maryland

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Marie Catherine Fordham (neé Curtain) age 83, of Westover, Maryland, peacefully passed away July 14 at her daughter’s home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. She was predeceased by her husband William Michael Fordham in April 2017.

Surviving are her two daughters, Deborah Fordham Wunder and her husband Jerry of Westover, Maryland and Marie Fordham Aruffo of Lakewood Ranch, Florida. She also leaves behind her five grandchildren, Matthew Aruffo of Lakewood Ranch; Meghan Aruffo of Studio City, California; TJ Cooney and his wife Jess of Arlington, Virginia; Connor Cooney and his wife Shelby of Frankfurt, Germany; and Seamus Cooney of Westover, Maryland. In addition, she is survived by her brother Joseph Curtain and his wife Patricia. She leaves behind a large extended family and many friends whom she loved dearly.

Marie was born May 31, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York to the late Joseph and Marie (Petrella) Curtain. She moved to Atlantic Highlands at age 12 and was a member of St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church where she was a member of the choir. Marie was a proud graduate of the Red Bank Catholic High School class of 1952. On February 4, 1955 she married the love of her life William Fordham at St. Agnes Church.

She was a devout Catholic always prayerful and generous with her time and donations to the church and those in need. Marie was a past president to the Ladies Alter Society at St. Leo the Great Church in Lincroft, committee chairman for the annual carnival, bingo worker and a supportive parishioner. In 1989 she retired with her husband to Westover where she was a member of St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church. She was a liturgy chairman and one of the founders of the Father Edmund Knights of Columbus Juliana’s chapter 370. Marie volunteered at countless parish functions and volunteered for many years at the Seaton Center in Princess Anne, Maryland. Marie was also a strong supporter of catholic education.

Marie was employed at the Central Jersey Bank and Trust Company in Shrewsbury for 15 years and later worked at Monmouth Consolidated Water Company in Shrewsbury until her retirement in 1985 due to disability. She struggled with physical challenges but never let them stop her from living life to the fullest and was an inspiration and an example of independence, perseverance and strength.

Marie lived a full and generous life always faithful to God, family and country. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting alongside of her husband, fishing and cooking, celebrating family, reading and community service. Her world was her family and the church. She was generous and compassionate to anyone in need. Her quick wit and humor was enjoyed and loved by all her knew her.

A memorial Mass in celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 21, at St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church in Westover, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Seaton Center in Princess Anne, Maryland.