Marie M. O'Rourke

Mass is today for longtime Stapleton resident and devoted grandmother

Marie Machado O'Rourke died on March 19, 2016. Marie was born in Newman, Calif., where she met John J. O'Rourke while he was serving in the Air Force.

She moved to Staten Island, N.Y., in 1954 and lived for 60 years in Stapleton.

Marie was a Girl Scout leader for many years at Immaculate Conception School, where she was a parishioner until 2013. She then attended St. Ann's Parish until the time of her death.

She went back to work in 1970 as a teacher's assistant at P.S. 14. She then worked at the D & L Meat store for more than 15 years, while also working part-time at the S.I. Register. After that, she began working for 3 Sons Printing, where she stayed until retiring three years ago.

An avid walker, she never renewed her driver's license when coming to NYC and rode her bike or walked from Stapleton to Dongan Hills while watching her grandson, Jon-Louis. She also spent many hours watching her five grandchildren play sports. She loved teaching them how to fish, grow gardens, do puzzles, and cook.

She was a wonderful sewer, making most of her daughters' clothes when they were young, as well as her own. She baked daily, often getting up at 4 a.m. to bake fresh pies, cakes and other goodies for her husband to enjoy while she was at work.

She was a caring, generous woman who often helped her many nieces and nephews when they needed help. She loved going back to California and made sure her daughters knew their family out there.

She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, John James O'Rourke III, who passed in 2010.

She is survived by her daughters, Maria Berti and Jeanne Johnson, as well as her sons-in-law, Steven Berti and Robert J. Johnson III; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital .

The viewing was held Monday, March 21, 2016, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Virginia Funeral Chapel, 1707 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, N.Y. 10305. Mass of Christian Burial is on Tuesday at St. Ann's Church at 10 a.m., followed by interment at St. Peter's Cemetery.

Virginia Funeral Chapel

1707 Hylan Blvd.

Staten Island, NY 10305

(718) 987-2828

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Published in Staten Island Advance on Mar. 22, 2016

- See more at: http://obits.silive.com/obituaries/siadvance/obituary.aspx?n=marie-orourke&pid=178136116#sthash.Lm4QpeuZ.dpufArrangements under the direction of Virginia Funeral Chapel, Staten Island, NY.