Obituary of Marguerite C. Garde

Marguerite Garde, 110  (1909 – 2019)

Marguerite Catherine Garde passed away peacefully on July 29^, 2019, at Troy Hills Center in Parsippany, NJ, at the age of 110.  Born in New York City on March 23, 1909, to Anna W. and Charles Christian Ruess, she was the oldest of three children and grew up in The Bronx. 

Marguerite went to work as a young teenager to help her family due to the effects of the Great Depression.  She developed her secretarial skills while working in Manhattan and eventually worked in radio in Rockefeller Center just prior to and during WWII.  She witnessed many live radio shows that were performed in front of live audiences, even getting to meet some of the famous celebrities of the time.

She met her love, Edward Garde, in NYC and they married in 1942 just before he enlisted in the Army and went overseas.  After WWII, they moved to NJ and raised their two children in Cresskill.  Marguerite was an excellent baker and loved to surprise her family with homemade goodies. She was also a talented seamstress; enjoyed knitting, crocheting, gardening, and in her spare time, reading a good book.  As her children grew up, Marguerite went back to work as a legal secretary until she retired.

Marguerite and Ed loved to take driving trips in their retirement, many times visiting family and friends in distant places.  After Ed died, Marguerite eventually moved to St. Francis Residential Community in Denville, NJ, where she resided for 12 years.  At age 103 she Moved to Troy Hills Center, Parsippany, NJ.  She loved taking long walks at both places and continued to do so until age 107.  The family has been so blessed to have shared the extraordinary life of this remarkable woman for so many years.

Marguerite was predeceased by her parents, her step-father,Theodore Bielfeld, her sister Dorothy, brother Theodore, and her beloved husband of 44 years Edward Garde (1986).

She is survived by her loving children Susan Riggs (NJ) and Richard Garde (CO).  She is also survived by her 6 grandchildren: Jerilyn, Irene, Ned, Jetur Ryan, Kerrilyn, & Michael,. and her 8 great-grandchildren: Deklyn, Abby, Evelyn, Bryson, Norah, Caroline, Corinne, and Hailey.

The family would like to express their sincerest thanks to all the staff at both St. Francis in Denville and Troy Hills Center in Parsippany, including the Compassus Hospice Team, for the wonderful care and love that Marguerite received on a daily basis.

A Celebration of Marguerite’s Life  will take place at 11AM on Saturday September 21, 2019, in the Chapel at  St. Francis Residential Community, Denville, NJ 07834 under the direction of Norman Dean Home for Services 16 Righter Ave Denville, NJ www.normandean.com.