Obituary of Mary Ann Gertrude Warden

Mary Ann G. Warden, 84, a loving, devoted mother and grandmother and long time Denville resident passed away on Friday, April 28, 2023, at St. Clare's Hospital, Denville, NJ after a hard-fought battle with metastatic melanoma.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, James J. Warden, son-in-law Douglas Schweizer, sister Joan Bombacie and brother George Morris.

Mary Ann was born and raised in Greenwich Village in Manhattan, New York.  She was the daughter of Henry T. Morris and Catherine Wilson Morris.  In September of 1960, she married the Love of Her Life, James Warden.  The two started a family in NYC and moved to the Rock Ridge Lake area of Denville, NJ in 1971.  They were both active in the community and were members of St. Mary's Church for 52 years. Mary Ann represented the Rock Ridge Lake Community as a long-time contributing writer to The Citizen Newspaper.

Mary Ann retired from her career as a Legal Secretary in 1998 in order to spend more time with family, whether it was an annual family vacation to Atlantic Beach, NC, hosting family gatherings, discovering new family tree ancestors at the NY Public Library or just spending an afternoon together at home or relaxing on the deck.  Family was truly the center of her world.  Her grandchildren adored her and were the Lights of Her Life.

Mary Ann had so many friends, some of whom she had been friends with since grammar school.  This is a testament to what kind of a person she was - caring, kind, funny, friendly and a devoted friend.

Mary Ann is survived by her daughter Nancy Schweizer and fiancé Eric Wright of Raleigh, NC, daughter Kathleen Cortese and husband Bill Cortese of Lafayette, NJ, son James M. Warden and wife Laura Warden of Downingtown, PA and son Thomas E. Warden and wife Yasmin Warden of Rockaway, NJ.

Mary Ann is also survived by her 5 grandchildren, Emily Cortese, Lyndsi Cortese, James R. Warden, Thomas L. Warden and Patrick X. Warden.

Two of Mary Ann's favorite charities were St. Jude's Hospital and The American Cancer Society. If you would like to continue her memory in your own way, please consider donating to these foundations. Donations can be made via Inmemof.org

Mary Ann was greatly loved and will be tremendously missed by everyone who knew her.  We are all very lucky and are truly very blessed to have had her as our Mom! 

Hours of public visitation for Mary Ann are scheduled for Saturday, May 6^th, from 9 to 11 AM at Norman Dean Home for Services. A prayer service will be officiated by Father Martin from St. Mary’s Church at 10:30 AM. A procession will follow to Denville Cemetery immediately after for an interment service.