Obituary of Marie Lucille Mashnouk

Marie Lucille Mashnouk passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, October 8, 2022. She shared 89 years of, love, laughter, and unforgettable memories with family and friends.

Born and raised in Brooklyn to the late Gennaro and Grace Parente (Basilice), she was one of three children to bless their household. She raised her children while working and earning a college degree. She worked her way up to the position of Purchasing Supervisor, for H.F. Hendersen Industries specializing in Engineered Systems for Government and Industry – a position she was very proud of. Being very resourceful, she always successfully completed the task of locating and purchasing very rare parts which sometimes required her to visit customer locations to assess the situation.

She married the love of her life, Alfred Alexander Mashnouk, on October 12th in 1958. Together they moved from Brooklyn, to Long Island, finally settling in 1969 in Denville where they raised their 4 daughters.

Marie has been a true example of a Christian woman, working hard to instill values of kindness, love, and compassion for others in her children and grandchildren. She devoted her life to taking great care of her husband and family. She also donated time, money, and energy to those less fortunate. Marie and Alfred funded the digging and installation of two water wells which allowed local communities in Uganda, Africa, to have fresh, clean water. They didn’t stop there. They also funded churches and schools in Uganda, and donated soccer uniforms and sewing machines to the children of these communities. Close to home, they were very generous to the Catholic churches they attended in both Florida and New Jersey. They refurbished a prayer station and statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at St. Mary’s in Denville, New Jersey, and donated a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Cecilia’s Church in Clearwater Beach, Florida.

Marie was a devout Catholic, having been a faithful member of St. Mary’s Church in Denville, where she served for many years as President of the Rosary Society, leading and organizing prayers and events for the worship of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as well as His Blessed Mother Mary. She regularly led the rosary before Mass on Sundays, and attended monthly novenas to the Blessed Mother. She often accompanied her husband Alfred to Nocturnal Adorations. In every spare moment Marie prayed. She prayed daily for her family, friends, and loved ones. She prayed for her country which she loved dearly. Our lives have been blessed because of her prayers and her unconditional love for us all. We are sure she continues praying and watching over us all from above.

Marie and Alfred travelled extensively, visiting many countries and all continents. They often chose to visit pilgrimage sites including Lourdes, Garabandal, Međugorje, La Salette, the Shroud of Turin, and Fatima. On her pilgrimages she was very blessed to stay, or visit with, members of the families of the seers who experienced the apparitions of the Blessed Mother.

When Marie wasn’t busy making the world a better place, she loved sitting in the sun and talking to her daughters almost daily, wanting to always be part of their lives and available if they or their children needed her guidance. She was very proud of her close-knit family who over the years remained strongly united and spent every holiday together. She was dearly loved by her grandchildren and will be forever missed and treasured in our hearts.

Her legacy of compassion, generosity, and humanitarianism will live on in the hearts of her adored daughters, Gracemarie (Marco) Bricalli; Rosemarie (Robert James III) Knorr; Theresa Julian; and Rachel (Andrew) Bernard; her cherished grandchildren, Stephanie and Christina Bricalli; Robert James (Laura) Knorr IV; Maria (Jeff Wittekiend) Knorr; Maria Elizabeth, Nicholas Alexander, Dana Rose, and Daniel James Julian; Julia and Christopher Geueke; a treasured great-grandchild; and many dear nieces, nephews, and extended family, colleagues and friends.

Public Visitation will be held on Monday, October 17, from 4 – 8 pm at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, October 18 at 10 am at St. Mary’s Church, 15 Myers Avenue, Denville. *** Mass will be live-streamed for those unable to make it via St. Mary's website.*** Burial will follow at Denville Cemetery in Denville. Memorial Donations to Boys Town are being accepted in Marie’s memory by way of www.inmemof.org to ensure receipt of your donation.

Please light a candle, leave a condolence, and share your favorite memory of Marie here to continue to celebrate the incredible life she bestowed upon us.