Obituary for Mary Donna Goldsmith (Syseskey)
Mary D. Goldsmith, 62, of Toms River, passed away on Friday, March 8, 2019, at Community Medical Center, Toms River, with her husband by her side.
Mary was born in Plainfield. She was raised in Cranford before moving to Colts Neck as a teenager. She was a graduate of Marlboro High School, and went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree at Rutgers University and her Master’s Degree at Monmouth University. Mary worked for many years for the Monmouth County Board of Social Services, and thereafter, as a software programmer for Prudential, in Holmdel. Mary was a world traveler who had visited 96 countries and 7 continents by wheelchair. She was also an accomplished winemaker, and led the St. Joseph’s Book Club, Toms River. Having battled Rheumatoid Arthritis since she was a young girl, Mary was a strong advocate for people with disabilities. She was instrumental in the passing of Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act legislation, which mandates workplace rights and designated parking spaces for people with disabilities. Mary is being remembered as an inspiration and an angel.
Mary was predeceased by her father, George Syseskey. She is survived by her mother, Angelica (Zanetti) Syseskey, of West Brandywine, Pa. Mary is also survived by her beloved husband, Steven Goldsmith, of Toms River, and her sisters, Ann, and her husband, Timothy Scheve, of Philadelphia, Grace, and her husband Robert Kiever, of Summerland, Fla., and Jane Syseskey, of Lawrenceville, as well as nine nephews and nieces.
Visitation will take place at O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy. 35, Wall, on Friday, March 15, 2019, from 4-8 PM. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Catharine’s Church, Spring Lake, on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at 10:30 AM, followed by entombment in St. Anne Cemetery, Wall. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Arthritis Foundation, at www.arthritis.org, the American Diabetes Association, at www.diabetes.org, or the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, at www.myasthenia.org.
Mary was born in Plainfield. She was raised in Cranford before moving to Colts Neck as a teenager. She was a graduate of Marlboro High School, and went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree at Rutgers University and her Master’s Degree at Monmouth University. Mary worked for many years for the Monmouth County Board of Social Services, and thereafter, as a software programmer for Prudential, in Holmdel. Mary was a world traveler who had visited 96 countries and 7 continents by wheelchair. She was also an accomplished winemaker, and led the St. Joseph’s Book Club, Toms River. Having battled Rheumatoid Arthritis since she was a young girl, Mary was a strong advocate for people with disabilities. She was instrumental in the passing of Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act legislation, which mandates workplace rights and designated parking spaces for people with disabilities. Mary is being remembered as an inspiration and an angel.
Mary was predeceased by her father, George Syseskey. She is survived by her mother, Angelica (Zanetti) Syseskey, of West Brandywine, Pa. Mary is also survived by her beloved husband, Steven Goldsmith, of Toms River, and her sisters, Ann, and her husband, Timothy Scheve, of Philadelphia, Grace, and her husband Robert Kiever, of Summerland, Fla., and Jane Syseskey, of Lawrenceville, as well as nine nephews and nieces.
Visitation will take place at O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy. 35, Wall, on Friday, March 15, 2019, from 4-8 PM. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Catharine’s Church, Spring Lake, on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at 10:30 AM, followed by entombment in St. Anne Cemetery, Wall. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Arthritis Foundation, at www.arthritis.org, the American Diabetes Association, at www.diabetes.org, or the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, at www.myasthenia.org.