Obituary of Marie Broadwell Speer

Marie Broadwell Speer passed away on Friday September 8, 2006 at St. Clares Hospital in Denville she was 97. Born in Morristown Marie was the youngest of three daughters of the late Dr. and Mrs. John Mason Broadwell. Marie Grew up in Morristown and Madison and was pre-deceased by her husband Robert E. Speer in 1953. For the past eight years Marie has resided at Franciscan Oaks in Denville after moving from her home in Boonton Township. Marie also resided with her husband in Mountain Lakes and Parsippany. Marie attended the academy of St. Elizabeths and received her Bachelors degree from the College of St. Elizabeths. Marie also received Graduate degrees from Kean College and Rutgers University. A brilliant woman, Marie began her teaching career in Pine Brook NJ and retired from the Parsippany- Troy Hills School District after a long and distinguished career. Mrs. Speer published many articles on education and was listed in the Eighth Edition of Whos Who In American Women. She wrote poetry and was an avid reader. As a member of the national Educating Association Marie Speer was appointed as a representative to the US National Commission for Unesco. As a volunteer, Marie spent one summer vacation in Sierra Leone, West Africa, teaching teachers how to improve the skills of their students. After her retirement, Marie volunteered at St Clares hospital in Denville. Marie loved to travel and toured extensively in Central America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa. As a long time member of Rockaway River Golf and Country Club, she enjoyed golf, swimming and cross country skiing. Marie was also a member of the Mountain Lakes Womens Club. Marie will be missed by the many friends that she made during her inspiring, adventurous, and well-lived life. Survivors include her niece Joan Holly Fisher and her husband Russell, her nephew Stephen ODonnell and his wife Sandy. Marie was a beloved Great-Aunt to Larry Fisher, Peter Fisher, the late Mark Fisher, Holly Weber, Natalie Gooding, Steve ODonnell, Matt ODonnell, and Brian ODonnell. Marie was also an adored great-grand Aunt to Kyle Fisher, Ryan, Scott, and Samantha Fisher, Emily and Sydney Weber, Zak Fisher and Erik Gooding, Ryan and Shannon ODonnell, and Charlie ODonnell A memorial service will be held on Saturday September 16, 2006 at 11:00am at St Catherine of Siena Church in Mountain Lakes. Maries Ashes will be interred following the service at the family plot in Evergreen Cemetery in Morristown. Arrangements were handled by Norman Dean Home For Services 16 Righter Avenue Denville NJ 07834, for more information please see www.normandean.com In lieu of flowers, donations maybe made to the New Jersey Council for the Blind, Diamond Spring Road, Denville NJ 07834 or the United States Library of Congress, Talking Books Department, Washington D.C.