Our Loving Mother, Michele Cusack Conlin, left this world on Sunday February 9th. Michele passed peacefully at home in the company of loving family, cherished friends and wonderful neighbors.
Michele enjoyed a happy childhood in Jersey City, NJ arriving on June 14th, 1932 to the proud new parents Michael and Laurette (Jennings) Cusack. Being the first child of three, Michele was joined by her dear brother Michael Harry and her beloved sister Maureen (Cusack) Vigna.
Michele studied history at The College of Saint Elizabeth's and was fortunate to make several lifelong friendships before graduating with honors in 1953. She enjoyed teaching as a young graduate in Jersey City and Syracuse, NY. She also worked as a counselor at a summer camp on Long Island. This is where she met another counselor, Edward J. Conlin, over the dessert bar, we were told. It was love at first bite.
Michele and Ed married in 1958 and were blessed to enjoy another 54 summers together. Their lives were filled with joy, family, friends, travel and as many days on the beach at the Jersey Shore as possible.
Ed's Basketball career brought them to Syracuse, Detroit, and Saint Louis before returning to Jersey City with two young daughters. With the family getting ready for one more addition, Michele and Ed moved their growing family to Montclair in 1964.
Michele delighted in meeting and making new friends through her career as a realtor. She collaborated with colleagues at JoAnn Eagan, Ladendorff Associates, Schweppe, Burgdorff, and Stanton Company, where she worked until 2015. She took pleasure in her engagement with The Garden Club of Montclair, the Iris and Van Vleck Gardens, her treasured friends in The Investment Club and her fellow parishioners at Saint Cassian Parish.
Michele was a smiling optimist who looked for the best in people and life. She was particularly devoted to the intergenerational community of her neighborhood on North Mountain Avenue. She relished in friendships from all chapters of her life: the early days on Stegman Parkway in Jersey City, where her father was the Police Chief, to high school, college and her many happy years in Montclair. Michele enjoyed the design aspect of real estate and the history and variety of the architecture of her town. She appreciated its parks and public spaces and delighted in supporting local businesses and community members.
She was extremely fortunate to age in place in her home where she was lovingly cared for by her son, Ed Conlin of Montclair. She is survived by her son and two daughters and their families including: Carole (Conlin) Wedge, Jerry Wedge, Morgan & Aynsley Wedge of Concord, Massachusetts and Jane Conlin, Jackson & Sally Zieper of Far Rockaway, Burlington, Vermont, and Brooklyn.
A celebration of her life will take place on April12th at 11am Saint Cassian Church in Montclair, New Jersey. Donations in Michele's memory may be made to The Montclair Foundation/Van Vleck House & Gardens.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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