Marie Mairs, nee Bailey, 87, of Colts Neck, NJ passed away at home with her husband, Jack, by her side.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, on November 23, 1932, Marie graduated from Bishop McDonald High School.  She moved to Matawan in 1964. From 1989 to 2010 she and her husband split their time between Scottsdale, Arizona and her home in Matawan.  She moved to Colts Neck in 2017.

Marie was an active parishioner of St. Joseph’s, Keyport for many years volunteering her time to their causes. She also volunteered for the school and at local hospitals. She enjoyed spending her time with her husband, children and grandchildren.

She loved her home and hosting holidays with her family, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, her most favorite holiday. She showed her love for her family by cooking for every occasion as cooking was her hobby.  Anyone who entered her home, no matter what time would be fed a meal. She enjoyed traveling and she took great pride in her home and feels her greatest accomplishment was raising her four children.

She was deeply loved and will be missed by her family. She was the wind beneath their wings.

Surviving is her husband of 68 years, Jack; her daughter Eileen Cimino and her husband Vincent, Toms River, NJ, her son, John Mairs and his wife Susan, Matawan, NJ, her daughter Claire Stamler and her husband Alan, Greenville, SC and her daughter Maureen Finnegan and her husband Sean, Colts Neck, NJ; her 12 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

At the families request Marie will be privately cremated.

To leave a message of condolence or to share a favorite memory please visit Marie’s page at www.Holmdelfuneralhome.com.

Eulogy by Jack Mairs

For 70 years in total and 68 years of marriage, Marie was the love of my life.  At first she endured being married to a wartime soldier.  Not knowing for weeks or months whether I was dead or alive until letters arrived.  She endured watching people in the neighborhood become Gold Star families when people were told their loved ones would not be returning wondering if she would become one. In the military, soldiers would salute a hero.  Today, I give Marie that salute.

Marie grew up with only one sister. Until today, she was the mother of 4 with 4 spouses, Grandma to 12 with 7 spouses and Great Grandma to 14 soon to be 15. That could have been 43 at the dining room table for which she would have happily cooked.  Even with a crowd of that size she had the capacity to love each and every one of them.

I have been the luckiest man in the world for the last 70 years.

My last request is to Marie and God. I would like her to be waiting for me when I get to heaven, and soon, where we can reunite and live and love together for eternity.