Marian Cioffi

Marian Cioffi, née Ferreira, of Cresskill, passed away peacefully on February 16th at the age of 97. Born in 1926 in Fall River, Massachusetts, and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, Marian married her beloved husband, Joseph Cioffi, in 1948, and together they lived a full and wonderful life in Cresskill for over 70 years, raising a daughter, Janet, and son, Vincent. As a child she was an accomplished dancer who excelled in tap and ballet, and she and Joe continued to impress all who saw them dancing together at the clubs and parties they frequented in New York and New Jersey. A darn fast typist, Marian worked as a clerk in Manhattan and at Scholastic publishers in Englewood Cliffs for many years. When Joe opened his own printing business, she was his bookkeeper and managed the office. She was also an avid baker who was known for her unrivalled brownies, cakes and especially her famous and delicious Christmas cookies, a treat her family and friends looked forward to all year long. She leaves behind happy memories of baking with her children and grandchildren and scanning through her cherished collection of recipes and cookbooks. If anyone wanted to find her, they need not look further than into her sunroom where she enjoyed moments of solitude or engaged in one of her lifelong hobbies that included knitting everything from hats and gloves to beautiful sweaters and quilts or simply enjoying a good book. Marian was happiest when she was with her family and dedicated her life to them. She enjoyed spending summers in Montauk which she began doing as a teenager with her mother and father, and continued when she had her own family, enjoying all aspects of seaside active life with them, or simply waiting for Joe and the kids to return from a day of fishing. After she and Joe built their family beach house in Barnegat Light on LBI, they would often spend their time on the beach or out on the deck enjoying a beautiful sunset. She was a proud and devoted mother and grandmother who loved being there for baseball and soccer games, school plays, and all the activities her children and grandchildren were involved in over the years. She and Joe traveled the country together throughout their lives but especially after Joe’s retirement. Marian spent much of her life active and full of energy. She enjoyed bowling with friends, which she did until the age of 85, and was fond of spending time outdoors doing anything from walking to raking leaves in the yard. In her later years, she was unfortunately diagnosed with dementia/ Alzheimer’s disease, further curtailing so many of the activities she loved over the last few years of her life. Marian’s long and eventful life of nearly 98 years cannot be summed up in a few short words, she was beloved by her family and many lifelong friends. Marian leaves behind her loving and devoted son Vincent and his wife Donna; grandchildren Christopher (Vincent), Daniel, and Eric Cioffi (Vincent and Donna) and Jeffrey and Timothy Workman (Janet); step-grandson Kyle Paolucci (Donna) and his wife Melissa and her great grandchildren Avery and Ryan; niece Kathy Cioffi; and her former daughter in law Suse Bell. She was predeceased by her husband Joseph Cioffi (1923-2008) her daughter Janet C. Workman (1951-2022), and son in law Bruce Workman (1944-2023). The Cioffi family wishes to thank the Regency Memory Care Center, The Emerson Health and Rehabilitation Center, And Valley Hospice nursing team for their guidance to our family, and their compassion and care given in helping make the end of Marian’s life joyful, peaceful, and comfortable. Service will be held at Barrett Leber Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 21st from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and interment will take place at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus. Donations to the Alzheimer’s Association in Marian’s name in lieu of flowers would be appreciated.

Marian Cioffi

February 16, 2024