Obituary of Dr. Marie E. O'Brien

Dr. Marie E. O'Brien, 89 entered into eternal rest on April 21, 2009 at Haven Hospice, Woodlands. Born in Perth Amboy, to her late parents, Frederick and Elizabeth (Connolly) O'Brien, she was a lifelong resident of Plainfield. In her 56 year career at North Plainfield High School, Dr. O'Brien taught three generations of students how to write. As a teacher of English, head of the English Department and District Supervisor of Language Arts, she always stressed the importance of becoming a good writer. "The more you write, the better you will become" became Dr. O'Brien's rallying cry. The Dr. Marie O'Brien Excellence in Writing Award was created to celebrate her fiftieth year in the district and to recognize the huge contributions she had made in that area of teaching. Dr. O'Brien held a Bachelor of Arts in English from Montclair State University; a Master of Arts from Columbia University; and a Ph.D from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Even with these degrees, she never stopped learning and had amassed more credits in graduate study than any other professional in the district. A member of the Third Order of St. Francis, she was a communicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Plainfield where she also served as a lector. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Rev. James F. A. O'Brien. There are no immediate survivors. Services will begin at 9:30 AM followed by the Funeral Liturgy on Saturday, April25, 2009 at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Liberty and West Sts., Plainfield. She will be interred in the family plot at St. Gertrude's Cemetery, Colonia. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations nay be made to: Dr. Marie O'Brien Writing Award, c/o North Plainfield High School, 34 Wilson Ave., North Plainfield, NJ 07060.