Obituary: Marie Crowley, 98, of Branford

Courtesy of the family and W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home:

Marie Crowley of Branford passed away Sunday, January 1, 2023, at the Hearth at Gardenside. Born in New Haven on July 28, 1924, a daughter of Edward and Gladys Stackpole, Marie grew up in the Fair Haven area of New Haven, surrounded by a large, loving, extended Irish family.

During WWII, Marie was employed in a parachute factory and worked in banking while supporting her late husband, Cornelius Crowley, while he attended the University of Connecticut on the GI Bill. She was a waitress for many years at the Farm Shop in Branford, a true and loyal friend, a voracious reader, and volunteered for many years with the Friends of the Library group as a book sorter. She loved flower gardening and was quite proud of the garden she planted single-handedly at 93 years old.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Edward Stackpole, sister Gladys Judson, and husband, Cornelius Crowley. Marie is survived by her son Michael (Jan) Crowley of Murfreesboro, TN, daughter Kathy Zyrlis of Branford, CT, and son William (Jeanne) of Branford, CT, 7 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.

A private family service and burial is scheduled.