Mary Madeline Muise passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family May 5, 2024, in Fair Haven.
Madeline was born Feb. 10, 1943, in Albany, New York, to William L. Riley and Margaret Hoffman Riley. She was the eldest of three children. Madeline graduated from the College of Saint Rose in Albany with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish. She had a passion for the arts and music and excelled in drama, forensics and piano in high school and college.
After college, Madeline moved to Boston where she met her beloved husband of 59 years, Richard W. Muise. In 19 72, Madeline and Richard moved to Fair Haven where they made a beautiful home and raised their daughters, Deborah Moore and Pamela Kane.
Madeline’s life was marked by a deep commitment to family and friends, compassion for others and community. She was always keen on adventure and was a lifelong learner. She dedicated her lifelong work to helping individuals, couples and families find renewed meaning, purpose and joy in their lives.
Madeline received a master’s degree in social work from Rutgers University and went on to have a long and fulfilling career as a mediator and marriage and family therapist. She was in private practice at Mediation & Therapy Associated where she was known for her work with families experiencing divorce and was passionate about supporting and empowering families. Madeline never retired, found joy in her work and was happily talking to her clients to the very end.
Community was dear to Madeline; she was a member of AAUW for over 50 years, where she made some of her dearest friends. Madeline and her husband Dick loved to sail and enjoyed their time engaged in activities at the Shrewsbury River Yacht Club. They enjoyed cruising their sailboat, Wave Dancer, in the summers, covering the coast from Long Island Sound to Maine. They chartered and sailed numerous times in the British Virgin Islands with family and friends.
Madeline loved to travel and explore other cultures. Madeline and Dick traveled extensively together with some of their favorite trips being New Mexico, Yellowstone, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Ireland, France, England, Spain, Greece, China, Thailand and Cambodia.
Madeline was a student of Angeles Arrien, a well-known cultural anthropologist focusing on the common elements of early people. As part of her many trips to New Mexico, she became very interested in the Navajo culture and art. Madeline was an artist herself and enjoyed sculpting, painting and capturing scenes from her travels in pastels. She also loved nature, managing a beautiful garden at home as well as enjoying the many visiting birds at her feeders.
Madeline was predeceased by her parents, William and Magaret Riley, and nephew Patrick Riley. She is survived by her husband Richard Muise of Fair Haven; her children, Deborah Moore (Erik) of Atlanta, Georgia; Pamela Kane of Oceanport; Jamie Heenehan (Paula) of Apalachin, New York, from an earlier relationship; siblings, Jean Riley of New Amsterdam, New York, and John Riley (Diane) of Albany, New York; grandchildren, Justin Moore (Katie) of Raleigh, North Carolina, Sophie Moore of Washington, D.C., Travis Heenehan of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Monica Heenehan of Johnson City, New York; and five beloved nieces and nephews.
Madeline will be dearly missed but fondly remembered by all of those whose lives she touched and enriched.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1 at St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church, 7 Lincoln Ave., Rumson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy consider donating to the University of Pennsylvania Pulmonary Department or the Visiting Nurses Association in New Jersey in Madeline’s name.
Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank has been entrusted with the arrangements.
The article originally appeared in the May 16 – 22, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
