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August 10, 2026
Services
Friends are invited to gather with the family on Friday, August 14, 2026 from 4-7 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026 beginning at 9 AM at the funeral home.
Interment will follow at Fair Lawn Memorial Cemetery, 22-21 Maple Ave, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410.
Paul Marchant, Age 80 of Pompton Plains and formerly of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 10, 2026.
Paul was born to William and Merle Marchant and raised as an only child in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he grew up in an apartment next door to his cousin Jerry Gahagan’s family. The two boys were practically raised as brothers. From a young age, Paul loved the outdoors, and fishing and golf became lifelong passions. He was also an avid reader who enjoyed croquet, backgammon, and bridge, and he played trumpet in a jazz quartet. A gifted student, Paul graduated valedictorian of his high school class, then went on to Holy Cross University in Worcester where he earned a degree in economics. From there, he completed his Master’s degree at Rutgers University in Newark which led him to a position at a public accounting firm, and eventually to a career at Union Camp Corporation in Wayne.
In his mid-twenties, Paul met a beautiful girl named Jean Adams at a party. He quickly learned the party he was invited to was actually a birthday party for a friend’s child and he was immediately embarrassed to have arrived without a gift. All that embarrassment became worth it after he met Jean. He knew right away that she was the girl for him and when he first brought her to meet his family, he even introduced her to his mom as the woman he was going to marry. True to his word, Paul and Jean were married on August 26, 1972.
The couple settled first in an apartment in Wayne before buying a home on Linden Road in Wayne. There, they welcomed and raised their sons: Timothy in 1975, and Daniel in 1981.
Paul loved the ocean, and the family made frequent trips to Cape Cod, Wildwood, and Cape May to enjoy the salty sea air and the beautiful beaches. He also loved camping and fishing and made countless family memories at the KOA campgrounds along the Bass River and its water park. Winters brought their own tradition, as Paul and Jean shared a love of skiing that they made sure to pass on to their kids. They took many family trips to local ski mountains and even a few big trips to several famous mountains. Later in life, he picked up bowling and continued to sharpen his golf game, eventually earning a low handicap through years of dedication to the sport.
Above all, Paul will be remembered as a devoted and loving husband. When Jean fell ill with ALS, he became her caregiver, doing everything in his power to help her live a full life as the disease progressed. Jean sadly passed away in October 2018. After her passing, Paul moved into the Cedar Crest Senior Living Community, where he made many close friends and continued enjoying his hobbies in the company of others. His lifelong aptitude for numbers also drew him to the racetrack and the casino, including a memorable trip to Las Vegas, and an annual trip to the Hambletonian Stakes at MetLife to watch the thrill of harness racing.
Paul is predeceased by his parents: William and Merle, his wife Jean, and his twin daughters.
Paul is survived by his sons: Timothy and his wife Amy, and Daniel; his grandchildren: Amelie and Owen; and his many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews who loved him dearly.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy are encouraged to make a memorial contribution to The ALS Association.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends are invited to gather with the family on Friday, August 14, 2026 from 4-7 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026 beginning at 9 AM at the funeral home.
Interment will follow at Fair Lawn Memorial Cemetery, 22-21 Maple Ave, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410.
August 10, 2026
Services
Friends are invited to gather with the family on Friday, August 14, 2026 from 4-7 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026 beginning at 9 AM at the funeral home.
Interment will follow at Fair Lawn Memorial Cemetery, 22-21 Maple Ave, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410.
Paul Marchant, Age 80 of Pompton Plains and formerly of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 10, 2026.
Paul was born to William and Merle Marchant and raised as an only child in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he grew up in an apartment next door to his cousin Jerry Gahagan’s family. The two boys were practically raised as brothers. From a young age, Paul loved the outdoors, and fishing and golf became lifelong passions. He was also an avid reader who enjoyed croquet, backgammon, and bridge, and he played trumpet in a jazz quartet. A gifted student, Paul graduated valedictorian of his high school class, then went on to Holy Cross University in Worcester where he earned a degree in economics. From there, he completed his Master’s degree at Rutgers University in Newark which led him to a position at a public accounting firm, and eventually to a career at Union Camp Corporation in Wayne.
In his mid-twenties, Paul met a beautiful girl named Jean Adams at a party. He quickly learned the party he was invited to was actually a birthday party for a friend’s child and he was immediately embarrassed to have arrived without a gift. All that embarrassment became worth it after he met Jean. He knew right away that she was the girl for him and when he first brought her to meet his family, he even introduced her to his mom as the woman he was going to marry. True to his word, Paul and Jean were married on August 26, 1972.
The couple settled first in an apartment in Wayne before buying a home on Linden Road in Wayne. There, they welcomed and raised their sons: Timothy in 1975, and Daniel in 1981.
Paul loved the ocean, and the family made frequent trips to Cape Cod, Wildwood, and Cape May to enjoy the salty sea air and the beautiful beaches. He also loved camping and fishing and made countless family memories at the KOA campgrounds along the Bass River and its water park. Winters brought their own tradition, as Paul and Jean shared a love of skiing that they made sure to pass on to their kids. They took many family trips to local ski mountains and even a few big trips to several famous mountains. Later in life, he picked up bowling and continued to sharpen his golf game, eventually earning a low handicap through years of dedication to the sport.
Above all, Paul will be remembered as a devoted and loving husband. When Jean fell ill with ALS, he became her caregiver, doing everything in his power to help her live a full life as the disease progressed. Jean sadly passed away in October 2018. After her passing, Paul moved into the Cedar Crest Senior Living Community, where he made many close friends and continued enjoying his hobbies in the company of others. His lifelong aptitude for numbers also drew him to the racetrack and the casino, including a memorable trip to Las Vegas, and an annual trip to the Hambletonian Stakes at MetLife to watch the thrill of harness racing.
Paul is predeceased by his parents: William and Merle, his wife Jean, and his twin daughters.
Paul is survived by his sons: Timothy and his wife Amy, and Daniel; his grandchildren: Amelie and Owen; and his many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews who loved him dearly.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy are encouraged to make a memorial contribution to The ALS Association.
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