Marian Gregory Quigley, age 97, passed away April 17, 2025, in hospice care at her residence in Tinton Falls. She was a long-time resident of River Plaza and Middletown.
Marian’s proudest accomplishment was raising her accomplished and independent children: Susan McDonald, who became a registered nurse and EMT; Tim Quigley, who became a residential architect with his own firm and an adjunct professor; Anne Quigley, who became an accomplished gardener; and Nancy Mogavero, who became a legal paraprofessional. Spending time with her family brought her immense joy.
Once her children had grown, Marian worked at Brookdale Community College, then at Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals as a medical data coordinator, after receiving a degree in medical records technology from Union County Tech. She then worked at the Marlboro Public Library and finally, as a salesperson at Roots in Red Bank, an experience she loved.
After retiring, Marian became a long-time board member and volunteer at the Women’s Exchange in Little Silver. Her fondest hobby was reading, particularly local newspapers and The New York Times. She was an avid dog lover, a devotee of greeting cards (not a holiday would pass without one) and fond of pansies, cardinals, architecture, classical music, Danish kringle and angels.
Marian was born March 7, 1928 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to Robert Law Gregory and Kathryn Roberts Gregory. He was a school principal and Army colonel, she a teacher in Racine, Wisconsin. During World War II, she spent her high school years at Fort Benning, Georgia, and in Tyler, Texas. She then attended the University of Wisconsin, becoming a Delta Delta Delta sorority member and queen of the military ball before graduating with a Bachelor of Science in home economics in 1949.
At the UW, she met her future husband, Lawrence M. Quigley. His corporate transfer brought Marian to New Jersey in 1955.
She was predeceased by her husband of 73 years; her parents; two siblings, Ann Gregory Bennett and Jean Gregory Wood; and her daughter Anne (Mike).
She is survived by her daughters, Sue McDonald (Lou) and Nancy Mogavero (Bill), her son Tim Quigley (Brenda Ewert), eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
A memorial gathering was held April 25 at the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home in Long Branch.
In lieu of traditional remembrances, her family asks with gratitude that donations be made to the Seabrook Resident Care Fund, 3000 Essex Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 00753. Her family also wishes to thank her team from Executive Home Care – Sharon, Donna, Tavia and Ingrid – for the loving care and compassion shown to Marian, with a special thank you to Joanna Scoles, RN, from Homeside Hospice for her exceptional care.
Marian advised, “No tears, just smiles as you remember me in your thoughts and prayers.”
The article originally appeared in the May 15 – 21, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
