Maria Ann Baar passed away on October 22, 2019 at the age of 83 in McKinney, Texas where she was surrounded by family. Maria was born to Raymond and Angela (Mazzaccaro) Martinez on April 19, 1936 in Ashley, Pennsylvania. She lived her early childhood in Old Forge, Pennsylvania before her family relocated to Newark, New Jersey. After high school graduation, she worked at RCA where she met and married Louis Baar, and they raised their three daughters in Clark, New Jersey. Maria was dedicated to raising her children for many years before she went back to work at American Insurance Association and eventually moving to Loreal as an executive assistant where she worked until retirement. Living independently for many years in Edison and Lakewood, New Jersey, she eventually moved to McKinney, Texas and situated near two of her three daughters.
Maria was active for many years at St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Church where she had lifelong friends, sang in the church choir, taught CCD and published the church bulletin. Music brought her great joy and solace, and she had a beautiful singing voice. This saying was posted on her refrigerator:
Dear Music, thank you for always being there for me.
Maria is survived by her daughters and sons-in-laws, Elizabeth and Alex Cena, Susan and Michael Haney and Kathleen and Andrew D’Auria; grandchildren, Matthew Cena, Stephen Cena, Jillian D’Auria and Michael D’Auria. She especially loved and cherished her grandchildren.
A funeral mass will be held at 9:45 a.m., Tuesday, October 29, 2019 in St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, 332 Madison Hill Road, Clark, New Jersey 07066. Burial ceremony will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 332 Madison Hill Road, Clark, New Jersey 07066. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Monday, October 28, 2019 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Walter J. Johnson Funeral Home, 803 Raritan Road, Clark, New Jersey 07066.
Memorial donations can be made to her favorite charity St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee www.stjude.org.