Marie Zofrea

Marie C. Zofrea (nee Schrick), age 88, of North Haledon, passed away on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

Marie was born at home in Haledon. She grew up in that town and graduated from Central High School in Paterson. Furthering her schooling at Douglass College in New Brunswick, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in education. Eager to begin her career, her first teaching position was at Bergenfield High School teaching Math, Science and German. With her career on track, Marie and her high school sweetheart Philip Zofrea married on Saturday, July 18, 1953 at St. Paul’s R.C. Church in Prospect Park. This was followed by a honeymoon in Lake George, NY. When the blessing of children came – first Philip, followed closely by a daughter Karla, Marie paused from her teaching career to raise them. She returned to the classroom, this time at John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson, where she enjoyed the distinction of teaching in the school’s inaugural year, continuing for over thirty years thereafter. While challenging her students by day Marie earned her Master’s degree and later served as a guidance counselor and director of curriculum. She was very dedicated to her students always calling them “her kids”.  She was also active in the schools Z Club which supported athletics.  Selling juice and pretzels at basketball games and planning ziti dinners for the student athletes.   She enjoyed a long and satisfying career and touch many young people inspiring them to put in the work to achieve their goals.  She retired in the late 90’s but remained active as a member of the Passaic County Retired Educators Association where she developed and managed a scholarship for exemplary students aspiring to become teachers.

A longtime resident of North Haledon, she served as an officer of the Manchester Junior Women’s Club and Women’s Club raising money for town programs and improvements. Marie also volunteered for sixteen years with Habitat for Humanity.  Never one to sit still, she and Phil were longtime avid skiers, skiing into their eighties. Favorite destinations included Okemo Mountain Resort and Jay Peak Resort in Vermont. They also skied every year at Mont Saint-Anne in Quebec and shared their love for the sport with their children too. Marie was an avid reader. It seemed she was always working on a book and, for years, she and her lifelong friend Audree, who she met in kindergarten, frequented the Midland Park Book Club for stimulating discussion about their latest read.

Marie will be remembered for being the best wife, mom and grandmother, and a respected role model. Her life was exemplified by her desire to serve - whether to her students  and fellow teachers where her ability to inspire them to aspire to a job well done for whatever challenge presented, or to raising money for worthy causes, or to her community, or to those who just needed a little love, support or just a smile to receive some joy in their heart.  

Marie was the loving wife of Philip – blessed in marriage for 65 years until his passing in 2018. She was the devoted mother of Karla Zofrea and her husband Nick Sardone of Wayne, and Philip Zofrea and his wife Brenda of Bradenton, FL; cherished grandmother of Nicholas and Michael Sardone, and Christopher and Zachary Zofrea.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Marie’s name are asked to consider Passaic County Retired Educators Association, Future Teachers Scholarship Fund: checks payable to PCREAPF, P.O. Box 1321, Wayne, NJ 07474-1321.