Obituary of James H. Maynard, Jr.
James H. Maynard, Jr., age 94, passed away on Sunday, September 10, 2023, after a brief illness at McAuley Hall.
Jim was born July 24, 1929, in Irvington, NJ to James H. Maynard and Speranza (Hope) Marinelli. While growing up, he lived in New Providence, Chicago, and Gillette (Passaic Township) with his dear brother Bob, graduating from Bernards High School before joining the US Navy just after World War II. He spent 4 years in the Navy, serving with distinction on the destroyer USS Compton in southern US bases as well as the Mediterranean, being honorably discharged in 1951.
He married Joyce McMahon of Plainfield in 1953 and had two children, James and Nancy. Jim lived in Plainfield and North Plainfield his entire married life. He was active in his children’s interests including baseball, scouts, and horseback riding, and supportive of their endeavors.
Jim also attended night school over several years to secure an associate’s degree in business administration from Rutgers in New Brunswick. He worked most of his career as a purchasing manager at Muller Machinery in Metuchen, finishing his working days at Stone Safety Seal in South Hackensack before retiring gracefully at 67.
Joyce and Jim traveled extensively, seeing much of Europe as well as the United States and the Caribbean. He was very active for 60+ years at St. Joseph parish in North Plainfield, acting as lector, Eucharistic minister, Knights of Columbus member, and delivering communion to shut-ins. He volunteered at Mount Saint Mary for 20 years after his retirement handling mail and bank errands on behalf of the convent and McAuley Hall. The terms most often used to describe him included “gentleman” and indeed he was that; a man of great kindness and integrity often described as the “sweetest”, and the “most caring” man I’ve known by our family friends, and acquaintances.
He is pre-deceased by his wife, Joyce.
Jim is survived by his son James and daughter Nancy Szaroleta, their spouses Maureen Williams and Allen, four granddaughters, and three great-grandchildren.
There will be visiting hours at Higgins Home for Funerals in Watchung, NJ on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Church in North Plainfield, NJ, on Friday, September 22, 2023, at 10:00 AM followed by inurnment at Holy Redeemer Cemetery Mausoleum in South Plainfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome at St. Joseph Church in North Plainfield, NJ.
