Marlena S. Orgo passed away peacefully Oct. 1, surrounded by her family, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. She was born to her late parents Ernest T. and Audrey F. Orgo in Colts Neck and was raised on their family farm.
Throughout her life Marlena was a talented musician and very much enjoyed playing both the piano and guitar. She was a communicant of the Colts Neck Reformed Church. She attended Rutgers Prep High School and went on to graduate with honors from Rutgers University with a degree in statistics.
After graduation she spent her adult life living and working in Newark. After briefly working in the family’s florist business there, she pursued her passion for the restaurant business and opened the Green Street Café in Newark which she operated for several years. During her time in Newark, she developed many friendships and professional relationships with other local business owners.
When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed time with her friends in Northern New Jersey playing in both softball and volleyball leagues. She also spent many hours giving back to her community by volunteering to both prepare and deliver meals to local shut-ins and those less fortunate.
She always considered Colts Neck her home and made spending time with her family during the holidays an absolute priority. She will be dearly missed by all.
She is survived by her brother Thomas Orgo and his wife Dianna, sister Audrey Orgo, sister Cristina Wyatt and her husband Bob, and many nieces, nephews (and their families) and lifelong friends.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Oct. 5 at Colts Neck Reformed Church, 139 County Route 537, Colts Neck, with a funeral service beginning at noon. Interment will follow at Atlantic Cemetery, Colts Neck.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider a donation to the Colts Neck Reformed Church, P.O. Box 57, Colts Neck, NJ 07722.
This article originally appeared in the October 12 – 18, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
