Marie Mate

Marie Mate (née Galea) passed peacefully at home on December 17, 2021 with her devoted husband, Joseph, by her side. Marie was the beloved mother of Andrea Flynn (Brendan) and Lisa Mate (Russell de la Torre) and the cherished grandmother of Jack, Nora, Liam, Benjamin and Sarah. Marie was also the loving sister of Theresa Dovi (Sal) and the late Kathleen Maffa (Frank). She is additionally survived by her nephew and nieces, Anthony Dovi (Gina), Christina Maffa-Johnson (Niels Johnson), Stefanie Parry (Brandon) and Connie Tucci (Raymond).

Marie was born in Brooklyn, New York, to the late Alphonse and Concetta Galea. She later moved to Union, New Jersey before finally settling in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. Marie began her professional career with Irving Trust Company in their Legal and International Departments and later worked as a legal secretary at the NYC Law Offices of Connell & Taylor. She retired from Novartis Pharmaceuticals in 2013 as a Clinical Data Manager in their Oncology Department after 23 years of service.

Marie enjoyed spending time at the Jersey Shore with her extended family during the year and throughout the summer. However, her greatest joy was spoiling her grandchildren, grandnieces and grandnephews. Her compassion and sense of humor will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

A memorial mass will take place at Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church in Union, NJ on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marie’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105) or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7106). Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Mate family can be shared at McCrackenFuneralHome.com.