Mariellen Corrigan

Mariellen Corrigan (née Anella) of Haworth, NJ, died peacefully on September 15, 2023. Beloved wife of Leo P. Corrigan. She was the devoted mother of Leo P. Corrigan, Jr. (Kerry) and Meghan Corrigan Scott (Gregory), and loving grandmother of John (“Jack”), Thomas, & William Corrigan, and of Theodore & Lucy Scott. The joy her grandchildren brought her was boundless. She is also survived by her loving brother Stephen Anella (Louise) and sister-in-law Virginia Walsh, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. On a fateful day in the summer of 1966, Mariellen met Leo at the beach in Manasquan, NJ. After hearing his booming voice, she put down her Sunday NY Times to meet her future husband, and the rest is history – they got engaged on New Year’s Eve 1966 and were married the following December. Trips to Paris, Rome, Ireland, England and Switzerland – they did it all, together. They enjoyed many summer vacations in Montauk, before their children, with the children, and after, when they were off on their own. Soulmates forever, they were married for close to 56 years, raising their children, building their life, and making many friends. Born in Brooklyn, Mariellen was always true to her Italian NYC roots. Some of her favorite childhood memories were of summers spent upstate in Highland, NY with her many cousins. Her parents Anthony and Theresa later moved the family to New Milford, NJ. She graduated in the first graduating class at New Milford High School, and later from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in elementary education. Her peers knew her for being smart and stylish. A consummate hostess, Mariellen always made her friends and guests in her home feel welcome, and they never left hungry. She dazzled her family and friends with special holiday meals and celebrated her children every chance she got including memorable birthday and graduation parties. She did it her way! A true friend, she loved to spend hours and hours talking – and more importantly listening – to her friends on the phone. Mariellen touched the lives of the many students she taught in the Bergenfield School District for several years. Always giving, in the middle of her career, she took a leave of absence to be a speech therapist for her father, who had suffered a stroke. She loved her mom and dad so much. Later on, she was a substitute teacher in a several local districts as well as at St. Joseph School in Oradell. She also taught CCD classes at Sacred Heart Church, and was a Haworth Girl Scout leader. The family is grateful to the many health care professionals and caregivers that cared for in her final years. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Michael J. Fox Foundation (https://give.michaeljfox.org/give/421686#!/donation/checkout) or the Parkinson’s Foundation (https://www.parkinson.org/) to help fund the cure for Parkinson’s disease. Wake will be Friday, September 22, from 4–7 PM at Barrett Leber Funeral Home, Tenafly, NJ. Funeral will be Saturday, September 23 at 9:30 AM with a Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart Church, Haworth, NJ. Interment will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Tenafly.