Marion Velechko

Marion J. Velechko, age 75, of Toms River and formerly of Wayne, passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2022, while surrounded by the tender presence of her loved and adoring family.

Born in 1947 in Passaic, the first-born child of William and Mary (Malik) Kudla’s six children, Marion’s childhood was spent in Clifton, before moving into a new home in 1956 that her parents built together, brick by brick on Alps Road in Wayne. Growing up in a close-knit and extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins, Marion’s childhood included Sunday cook-outs at the house playing games in the pool and yard. Marion and her siblings enjoyed adventures with Mom and Dad to places like Land of Make Believe, Great Adventure, and Seaside Heights. As adults, Marion cherished gathering with her sisters and brother for holidays, crafting, and cookie making.  The Kudla siblings treasured their deepening friendship through the years.

Marion was a graduate of Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 1965. While in school, she worked part time at Two Guys Department Store where Riverview Drive and Route 46 come together in Totowa (where the Home Depot presently stands). She impressed her bosses so much that, after graduation, they asked her to stay as a full-time secretary. Having enjoyed the job, she accepted their offer and worked while completing her studies at Berkley Secretarial School.

As a young lady, Marion married Ken Garry and they moved to Florida. It was always Marion’s greatest wish to be a mom. That wish came true! She was first blessed with a baby girl, Kelly, who was soon followed by her little sister Stacy. Marion eventually moved back to NJ with the girls, settling at first in a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment in Wayne. Through hard work and help from her family and friends, she raised her daughters. She showered them with love and despite living on a shoestring budget, Marion strived to give them the kind of childhood she had. Marion secured a position with American Cyanamid near her home in Wayne. Her success there led to a position with Cytec Industries, a specialty chemical company in West Paterson (today known as Woodland Park). When Stacy and Kelly were in fifth and seventh grade, Marion and the girls moved to Pompton Lakes where they remained until her daughters graduated high school.

While working at Cytec Industries, Marion had the good fortune to meet her co-worker Walter Velechko. Friendship grew to love, and they married in 1998. A few years later, Marion and Walter purchased a beautiful, yet old and dilapidated, Victorian farmhouse in Hamden, NY. For many years they spent their weekends returning the house to its original glory. Marion retired and moved into the house full-time, opening it as Moonshadows and Memories Bed and Breakfast. Walter had a few more years before retirement so, in the meantime, he joined Marion on the weekends to serve their guests. They so looked forward to the day when Walter could join full-time but Walter sadly passed away before retiring.

After Walter’s passing, she became reacquainted with Andrew Acker, a classmate from Wayne Valley High School. They developed a warm, loving, and tender bond and remained hip-to-hip right up until Marion’s passing. Sharing a love of the Jersey shore, in July 2020, they moved to Toms River.

Marion’s mother Mary was a creative person who passed on the “creative bug” to all her children. Marion’s own sense of creativity came through several expressions. Marion was an avid dancer, dancing literally and figuratively, through life. One of Marion’s many pastimes was getting together with the Spinning Wheels Square Dance Club in Wayne. She danced with the club for decades, enjoying the friendships as much as the dancing. Marion enjoyed nature’s embrace, especially from her New York back porch and her Toms River “senior lounge” three-seasons room. In Toms River her love of nature became tempered by deer eating her plantings; the battle was futile.  She incorporated nature into her joy of painting as she created scenes featuring waterbodies, birds, covered bridges, and lighthouses. Marion’s artistry extended to pottery.  She made enough pieces to sell and named her enterprise “One of a Kind Pottery” because she couldn’t possibly make matching pieces.

Marion easily developed deep and long lasting friendships.  Everywhere she lived, Marion bonded with neighbors and others pursuing the same interests.  She remains close with friends from as early as high school. Despite the miles that sometime separated them, their bonds remained rock-solid.  Her varied groups of friends found ways to stay connected in-person, on the phone, and through the mail.

Kelly, Stacy, and Caitlyn are the most important parts of Marion’s life. Becoming a Mom was Marion’s life goal and giving birth to Kelly and Stacy were her most precious days. Despite the incredibly difficult time of Kelly’s untimely death in 2001, Marion believed she would see her again with her own passing. For Stacy, just one of many ways Marion demonstrated her love was by finding the means to put her through college. Over the years, their relationship developed from mother-daughter to mother-daughter-friend. Marion and Stacy simply loved doing life together! Marion was so proud of the accomplished woman Stacy became and rejoiced in her relationship with Kevin. Marion’s bond with Caitlyn is also a highlight. In Caitlyn’s early years, they lived nearby, bringing Marion joy and hope for her future. She was so proud of Caitlyn as she pursues her quest to become a registered nurse.

In the words of Marion herself: “My dear family, I will love you for all eternity and until we meet again you will be forever with my soul.”

Marion was the adored and adoring mother of Kelly Garry (predeceased in 2001), and Stacy Toner and husband Kevin of Wildwood Crest; cherished grandmother of Caitlyn Rohmert of Boonton;  tenderly-loved daughter of William Kudla (predeceased in 2018) and Mary Kudla (predeceased in 2016); much loved older sister of Patricia Kudla of Tuxedo, NY, Barbara Rissman of Tionesta, CA, Kenneth Kudla (predeceased in 2021), Kim Kudla of Warwick, NY, and Darlene  Grasso of Highland Lakes; beloved wife of Walter Velechko (predeceased in 2015); precious long-time companion of Andrew Acker of Toms River; dear aunt of Bryson Nieves of Warwick, NY, Erin Addison of Tionesta, CA, Jessica Peabody of Orangevale, CA, Joshua Rissman (predeceased in 2017), and Michael Rissman of Tionesta, CA;  and dear great-aunt of: Alyssa Addison of Tionesta, CA, Brandon Valencia of Orangevale, CA, Jesse Addison of Tionesta, CA, Jayson Peabody of Orangevale, CA, Aiden Odle of Tionesta, CA and Rusty Addison of Tionesta, CA.

Dress however makes you comfortable to celebrate Marion.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy to honor Marion’s life are encouraged to give a gift to a charitable organization of their own choosing.