Marylou T. Szczechowicz

Marylou T. Szczechowicz (nee Cangelosi), age 78, Riverdale passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 4, 2021 in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of her family.

Marylou was born in Hackensack, NJ and was the only child to Ignazio and Carmella Cangelosi.  Although Marylou was born in New Jersey, she spent her formative years growing up in San Jose, California.  Marylou returned to New Jersey with her mother and settled in Wayne, NJ when she was sixteen years old and attended Wayne High School.  After graduating from Wayne High School with the class of 1961, Marylou found work quickly as a secretary with Joseph F Hammond & Associates in Butler, NJ.  During her career she became office manager and was truly loved and respected by everyone who worked with her.  Marylou treasured a career with JF Hammond & Associates that spanned more than fifty years until her retirement in 2011.

One evening Marylou, while in her mid-twenties, went to see a band called The Emeralds in the fall of 1966 at a local tavern in Totowa, NJ.  While she was there, a handsome young man by the name of Duane Szczechowicz asked Marylou to buy him a drink.  This caught Marylou off guard a bit but she agreed.  Marylou and Duane hit it off great and started dating.  Their first date was dinner at the Manor in Orange, NJ and as fate would have it, they fell in love.  Duane and Marylou dated for about three years.  Duane was always heard to say that he “wouldn’t get married until they put a man on the moon.”  Of course on July 16, 1969 the Apollo 11spacecraft successfully landed on the moon’s surface with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.  So on September 28, 1969 Duane and Marylou were married at a church in Passaic, NJ and honeymooned in Bermuda.

After getting married, the newlyweds settled in Elmwood Park which at the time was known as East Paterson.  Duane and Marylou lived there for about a year and a half.  The couple then moved to Bloomingdale and remained there until 1978.  While living in Bloomingdale, Duane and Marylou adopted their only daughter Beth.  In 1978 the family moved to Wayne where they lived for forty years until moving to Riverdale in 2018.

Marylou and her family were parishioners of St. Mary’s RC Church in Pompton Lakes for many years and were also involved in the Baptismal Committee there as well.  Marylou was also a member of the local Italian Club.  She enjoyed playing the dice game known as Bunco and absolutely cherished her shopping sprees.  Marylou loved the entire shopping experience, whether it was for shoes, clothing or even food shopping.  Some of her favorite stores included Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Talbot’s.  For this reason it came as no surprise that Marylou truly cherished the holiday season.

Over the years, Marylou and her family owned homes in Myrtle Beach, SC and St Petersburg, FL where they frequented as “snow birds” during the winter months.  Duane and Marylou still have their home in Florida, and currently own a home in Big Bass Lake, PA as well where they enjoy spending time together as a family.  Another of Marylou’s favorite pastimes was travel.  She and Duane have traveled throughout the world to destinations such as Thailand, China, Italy, Greece, Alaska, Spain, Belize, and their favorite destination, Bermuda.  They have taken nearly twenty five cruises throughout the Caribbean and other destinations.  Aside from all of Marylou’s talents, hobbies and interests, her greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Marylou than spending time with her husband, daughter, and grandchildren.  She and Duane cherished fifty two years of loving and loyal marriage together.

Marylou had a wonderful and warm personality who made friends wherever she went.  She was an excellent cook and treasured hosting holidays, parties, and getting together with family and friends. She touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Marylou is survived by her husband Duane Szczechowicz of Riverdale, NJ, her daughter Beth Pacifico and her husband Patrick of Pequannock, NJ and two grandchildren; Trevor Pacifico and Liliana Pacifico both of Pequannock, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Marylou’s name may be made to Morristown Medical Foundation, 475 South Street, First Floor, Morristown, NJ 07960.  http://www.f4mmc.org