Obituary of Mary-Ann-H. Kirby

Mary Ann H. "Mickey" Kirby, 68, of the Cranberry Lake Section of Byram Township, N.J., died on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, at the Compassionate Care Hospice Dover, N.J. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, at 10 a.m. in the Good Shepherd R.C. Church, Andover, N.J. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 29, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home, 156 Main St. (Rt. 206), Newton, N.J. Online condolences may be sent to www.iliff-ruggierofuneralhome.com Born in Manhattan, N.Y., Mary Ann had resided in Newark and East Orange, as well as many years in Verona before moving to Byram Township in 1990. Daughter of the late Stella (Zack) and stepfather, Larry Fanfone, she was a graduate of the Arts High School Newark, and later was graduated in 1988 from the Montclair State University, receiving her bachelor's degree in consumer affairs. A former employee of the Amedica Tech Corp., Parsippany; the U.S. Equestrian Team, Gladstone, and the Catholic Advocate Newspaper of East Orange, N.J., Mrs. Kirby had retired in 2006 from the Mearsk Sea Land Shipping Co., Madison, N.J., as a capacity analyst. A devout parishioner of the Good Shepherd R.C. Church, Andover, N.J., she was an active member of the Cranberry Lake Community Club, as well as the Women's Association. An avid traveler, Mrs. Kirby loved her pets and equestrian sports. An accomplished artist, Mary Ann was predeceased by one brother Peter Metivier. Survivors include her companion, Thomas Kilkenny of South Orange, N.J.; her son, John E. "Sean" and his wife, Jessica Kirby III, of Verona; her grandchildren, Jack and Ian Kirby, as well as her brother, Walter Metivier of Torrance, Calif., and her sister, Helen Scalia, of Belchertown, Mass.