Obituary of Maria A Grupenhof

GRUPENHOF, MARIE A. "Marie Jack" (nee Giacchi), of Hackensack, passed away on Sunday, September 6, 2020 at the age of 92. Born into a large loving, very poor Sicilian family, Marie was one of 11 children - 7 of whom made it to adulthood. It was a very tight-knit immigrant community and she knew or was related to the majority of her neighbors. She found comfort in this and because of this she literally lived on the same piece of property she was born on her entire life. She worked as a seamstress in a local factory and there met her future husband, Bill. She married him as he went off to fight in the Korean War and upon his return they moved into the family house. They eventually bought this house and had 2 children, Bill and Jacki. She took pride in being a homemaker and a full time Mother. She loved sitting on the front steps at night with friends and neighbors and felt cooking was a physical manifestation of her love. Jacki and Bill got married and Marie and Bill eventually had 2 sets of grandkids to spoil and enjoy. Marie was never formally educated - she only went to 6th grade, but she had an enormous curiosity and natural intelligence that she passed on to her kids and grandkids. Whether it was trying to revive a bird doing mouth to break resuscitation (with a straw no less) or semi dismantling her police radios and re-soldering it back together (using a potatoes peeler as a soldering iron), she boldly attempted to forge her own solutions. She loved the natural world and sharing with those around her what she saw in the night sky or what insect might be on a branch in her beloved garden. And what a gardener she was! We called her house the "plant hospital". Marie could create a thriving plant from even the smallest surviving piece. She never learned to play an instrument but she had a passion for big band music and would point out who was playing what instrument on what song. She didn't go to church but she had a love and admiration for her Catholic faith. She would watch Mass on TV and say the rosary several times a day, using different color rosary beads for different purposes. She had about 20 sets which she kept in a sort of "holy tool box". Many, if not most, people she knew were in her daily prayers. There was one more thing she was never taught but she did well…. She loved! She loved with an all- encompassing passion. Don't be mistaken - she wasn't a softy. She was feisty, blunt and honest. But if you were one of hers, she was all in, especially her grandkids Billy, Hailey, Gabby, Roy, Matt and Christian! For her grandkids, her house was a safe loving haven from the world. Marie's door was always open to her family and friends. It seems like she never slept and was game for boiling crabs, watching the grandchildren, or helping someone in need, equally at 2 in the afternoon or 2 in the morning. That bountiful love that she gave so freely can be returned to her today, by you remembering her in your thoughts and prayers. After 70 years together, then 2 years apart, Marie and Bill are together again. Marie Jack.... "Che Dio ti benedica e ti dia il benvenuto." Sicilian for May God bless you and welcome you. Beloved wife to the late Wilbur A. Grupenhof (2018). Loving mother to Bill Grupenhof and his wife Erin of River Edge and Jacki Askling of Hackensack. Loving grandmother to Roy IV and his fiancé Arielle, Matthew, Christian, Billy, Hailey and Gabby. Dearest sister to the late Josie Bono, Nellie Barbieri, Patsy Giacchi, John Giacchi, Margaret Bono and Joseph Giacchi. Beloved Aunt Mimi to many nieces and nephews. A prayer service will be held 7:45 PM, on Thursday, September 10, 2020, at the G. Thomas Gentile Funeral Home, 397 Union Street, Hackensack. Cremation will be private. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at the Funeral Home for visitation.