On the afternoon of Wednesday, April 22, 2020, Mary Alice Laird was called to heaven, her mission here complete. After nearly 18 months we are finally able to gather family and friends to celebrate her wonderful life. There will be a mass of Christian burial on Saturday, October 2, 2021, at 11:00 o’clock in the morning in Saint Barnabas Catholic Church, 33 Woodland Road, Bayville, NJ 08721. After the Mass, she will be laid to rest with her beloved husband of 28 years, Robert J. “Bob” Laird in St Joseph’s cemetery, 56 Cedar Grove Rd, Toms River, NJ 08753. Friends are welcome to attend or keep mom in your thoughts and prayers.
A proud mom, a woman pharmacist, a Catholic, a sister, a dancer, a boxer, a wife, a single mom, a boater, a cook, a party goer, a hostess, a gardener, a Grandmama, an Aunt, a friend, a counselor, a Puerto Rican, a leader, a daughter…
So many facets… So much Love… Here are the stories. Check back, we keep adding more content. Feel free to comment or add your memories and photos here.
When I was a kid, maybe 3rd grade, I would ride my bike to the children’s bible study held in the basement of the Methodist Church rectory in Ocean Gate. Mom was so excited that I had memorized my first bible verse there, John 3:16. Over the years, if she saw the verse on a card, she’d send it to me. The morning of April 22nd, the day she passed, I was working from home during this COVID-19 virus lockdown and happened to catch the video stream of the Mass from St. Margaret Parish I work at… The Gospel that day? John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”
That is beautiful, perhaps her last gift to you, while on this earth! ? Big hug
Our thing was junkin’. I would go down for the weekend and we would scour the paper for yard sales and estate sales. We would most often end up in Beachwood somewhere. She was the master of all bargainers!!! Twenty bucks could go a long way with MA.
Great memory, Cliff. I didn’t know her well, but in the brief time I (and my family) got to spend with her, it was apparent that she was remarkable in many ways. We were all blessed have met her.
Eternal rest grant unto her, and may the perpetual light shine upon her soul.
That was most definitely a SIGN! That was her way of telling you that SHE WAS WITH YOU, and that she will ALWAYS be with you! I still hurt and miss my mother terribly— she died exactly 6 months before your Mom — but I pray to her and think about her every day. Your mother loved you, and as time passes, you will come to realize just how much! Rejoice in her memories!
Mary Alice was a remarkable woman! Full of love and grace . She was a wonderful friend ❤️ and all who knew her loved her. Rest in Heaven my dear friend we will never forget you ?❤️
Sending love and sympathy at this hour. May her memory be a blessing and may the love she shared be the legacy she leaves to you and yours. Spread her love and she will live on in those words and deeds. There is so much grace in a long and loving life but grief remains to remind us we will miss them!
To write about Mary Alice you had to truly know her. I spent many hours in her company. Laughing and sharing stories. She shared so many stories about growing up and going to school. Her first job at the local pharmacy. She could wrap a gift up like it came from Macy’s. Great training for her future life.
I met her Mother and her Brother at different times. What a beautiful family. Then there is Mary Alice as a mom. Road trips to many stores to get Collette formal dresses. Rockettes Christmas show and meeting her BBF . Driving through Manhatten to Brooklyn squished in my little Honda to drop Helda off.
We had many life experiences. Happy and sad but they always end with a silver lining.
Maryalice was the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow ?.
I am laughing at all the things I have been through with Maryalice and all her family, yes that includes the steps. Her love ❤️ was bountiful.
Love you.
I
Mary Alice was an amazing woman. I spent a lot of time at the Coombs’ house and she always treated Cliff and Collette’s friends like her own children. I had the great pleasure of seeing her at the July 4th parade in Ocean Gate the past several years. The best was when Cliff and I took our moms to the Anchor Inn together after the parade for a celebratory July 4th cocktail. Ocean Gate is family and I was blessed to have known Mary Alice since Kindergarten. You’ll truly be missed. Until we meet again.. ❤️
I had the pleasure of working with Mary Alice for several years when I was a pharmacy technician at HealthSouth Rehab. I will always remember her as a warm, loving, compassionate and FUN woman. Always so supportive of me and my endeavors. While she will be missed by all here, heaven gained an extraordinary soul.
It’s Christmas 2020…the first without this bright woman. Last year at this time, we were baking and making cookie trays to deliver to all of the wonderful people who helped get MA to church each morning. The detail that she put in to her Christmas season was unsurpassed. From her precious nativity, to her cherished ornaments….she loved telling the stories of each one. Last Christmas, we were to travel to Collette’s for dinner. The plan was to get up, get dressed and head to 1030 mass. Well, 1030 mass came and went….no trouble there. We could attend the noon service at her beloved St. Barnabas. We arrived at church, MA dressed with a brilliant seasonal pin on her jacket, and found our regular seats. Much to my surprise….the noon service was ENTIRELY IN SPANISH. No problem for her. Alas, I was lost. She knew, and gently grabbed my hand. When the service had concluded, we hopped in my car to start our drive for dinner. MA proceeded to go over the mass with me…not necessarily a translation, but a re-telling, with tales of her youth and of her children’s as well. MA loved her family above all else. She adored sitting on the couch with her grandson next to her. She was so excited to see the festive jello mold Collette had spent so much time on. MA was all about the details…..so this year while we may be spread apart from our loved ones, remember this……tell your family you love them. Tell your children, your nieces and nephews, your neighbors about your Christmas memories. Write a letter. Take a picture. Take a walk. MA taught me that Christmas isn’t a simple day, but rather a season of jubilee. This year, she gets to celebrate with the birthday boy himself!