Mary Anne Babich

Mary Anne Babich (nee Cummings), age 86 of Wanaque and formerly of Wayne, died peacefully on Friday, October 08, 2021.

Mary Anne was very proud to have grown up in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan and loved being from New York City! Her family moved to Clifton, NJ when she was 16 years old, and she attended Clifton High School. On the school bus, she met a particularly handsome young man named Leonard, and although he wasn’t from New York City, she quickly fell in love with him. They married at the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Church in Clifton on September 1, 1956 and enjoyed sixty-three years of a loving and devoted marriage. They honored each other, sharing a genuine mutual respect, and they doted on each other as well. Even in recent years, Len would fix a cup of coffee for her first thing in the morning and bring it to her in bed. She loved that. When they were first married, Len was in the service and stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Mary Anne happily became an Army wife and lived there with him until his discharge. They returned home and she compelled Len to get his college degree. She went to work at Bendix Corporation to help support Len and herself while he was in school at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She was very proud of the work she did there, and the security clearance that she earned while working for Bendix. She loved her work, but raising a family was a much higher priority, so when the time was right, she left the workforce to become a full-time homemaker.

Mary Anne and Len initially lived in Clifton and Garfield. They had a particular interest in the town of Wayne and started looking for a home. When Len found a house on Toms Lake Road that suited them, he brought Mary Anne to see it—but at first sight, she wouldn’t even get out of the car. Toms Lake Road was a country dirt road at the time, and she didn’t even want to consider this house. But Len convinced her to just walk inside and take a look around. She quickly fell in love with the house, the beautiful sunsets, and the entire Toms Lake Road community. They made long-lasting and endearing relationships with the neighbors, which became their social hub. Mary Anne was a proud Irish Catholic, often declaring that she’s 100% Irish and a descendent of County Kerry. St. Patrick’s Day was among the most celebrated holidays in her home, and there was never a shortage of Corned Beef or something to drink with it! Mary Anne and Len raised their three children there in the home at 40 Toms Lake Road, and enjoyed lots of good times with friends and neighbors. They eventually moved to Wanaque Reserve in 2006, passing the home on to another family.

Throughout the years, Mary Anne and Len took many vacations and cruises. Her favorite vacations were to the Jersey Shore with family, and to the Poconos where they would often getaway with their friends. They visited Cape May, Wildwood, Long Beach Island, Seaside, and just about every other seaside town along the shore. She didn’t understand why some people wanted to travel so far away from home to vacation when the Jersey Shore and Poconos were so close. Truth be told—she and Len made their own fun wherever they went! Mary Anne deeply adored her Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra records, Turner Classic movies, and especially every dog she ever owned. As an avid animal lover, she would say, “A good dog is a spoiled dog.”

Mary Anne’s greatest joy came when she became a grandmother. Her eight grandchildren—Jordan, Matt, Emily, Hayley, Amanda, Evan, Patrick, and Jack—were the love and light of her life. Nana, as they would call her, would step right in and do anything for them, babysitting often when they were small, and she would give them the greatest grandmotherly advice as they grew up. She often cooked for them her signature “Pennies from Heaven” macaroni and cheese dish and several egg salad sandwiches. She treasured and deeply loved them all very much and they will each miss her dearly.

Mary Anne was predeceased by her husband Leonard in February 2020. She is survived by her three children: Pamela Sussman and her husband Bruce of Wayne, Melissa Krapohl and her husband Eric of Sparta, and Brian Babich and his wife Joanna of Pompton Lakes, eight grandchildren, and her adored loyal dog, Wally.