Obituary of Marianne I. McConnell

Marianne I. McConnell, of Madison, NJ, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, January 18, 2025. She was 82.

Marianne leaves behind her beloved children, Lisa Blando and Mark Blando (Kathleen); four cherished grandchildren, Grace, Lily, Georgia and Joseph Blando; one brother, Dennis McConnell (Amanda); one sister, Kathleen Howard; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Born on November 17, 1942 in Orange to the late Dennis and Anne McConnell (née Craven). Marianne grew up in Stanhope.
She earned her BSN in Nursing from Rutgers University in 1983 and then worked as a visiting nurse for Morris County Visiting Nurse Association while attending law school as a single mother. She earned her JD from Seton Hall University in 1987, going on to become the Assistant VP of Government Relations for Beneficial Finance, serve as a public defender, establish her own law firm, and work for the State as an attorney for the Victims of Crime Compensation Board and the New Jersey Department of Health. 

Marianne always held strong political views, with an eye toward fighting for justice and equality. She was the President of the NJ League of Women Voters, Vice President of the Morris County Democratic Committee, President of the Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey, a commissioner on the Morris County Board of Taxation, and a member of the Madison Borough Board of Health. She was an avid fundraiser for local Democrats, hosting yearly picnics in her backyard. Marianne also ran for city council in Randolph when her children were young.

Marianne was fiercely independent and took great pride in being able to do any task herself. In her free time, she enjoyed jogging, sailing, baking, cooking, and traveling. She loved rock and roll music, watching comedy movies with her family, and tending to her vegetable and rose gardens. Above all else, Marianne loved being a mother to her children. 

Her family will deeply miss her feisty personality, but they take great comfort in knowing she is at peace.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend the visitation for Marianne on Sunday, January 26, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 27, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Vincent Martyr Church, 26 Green Village Road, Madison. Those who wish may attend the mass virtually by visiting www.svmnj.org

Interment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made in Marianne’s memory to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), National Public Radio (NPRS), or the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).