Obituary of Marie Adele Steen

The word that was most often associated with Marie Adele Steen was vibrant. She entered this world on April 22, 1936, surprising all by being born ten and eleven years after her older brothers but immediately adding a sparkle to everyone’s eye. She grew up in Berkeley Heights and graduated in 1954 from the college-prep track of Jonathan Dayton High School in Springfield, NJ, unusual for a female at this time.

Marie’s mother was determined that her daughter would have the opportunity to go to college, so off to Douglass College at Rutgers the State University she went, graduating with a BA in Fine Arts. Her love for her experience at Douglass was so strong that she served on the board of the Class of 1958 following graduation, sometimes as president, and has planned their reunions every five years since.

In college Marie’s vitality resulted in having dates almost every night of the week, but in her senior year she went on a blind date that ended all of that. Charles “Cholly” Steen III swept her off her feet (literally, they went dancing till the wee hours in NYC) and the following Christmas he wired an engagement ring into a rose. They have enjoyed 65 years of adventures, all while singing lyrics from the Patsy Cline classic, “But we’’ll travel along, singing our song, side by side.”

While Marie was teaching Art in elementary schools in Berkeley Heights and Long Hill Township, she was putting Cholly through college until he founded Sarco, Inc in the attic of their rented apartment. This company then moved to their newly purchased home next door and added the needed secretarial help from Marie’s sister-in-law, Shirley, who worked from the dining room. Marie was always quick to tell others that she owned Sarco (even though Cholly actually ran it). After the arrival of Marie and Cholly’s two children – Valerie and Butch – they moved their enterprise to a building down the street in Stirling and moved their home to Bernardsville. They later added a summer house in Manahawkin, NJ.

Marie still helped out at Sarco when needed, but devoted most of her time and limitless energy to her children and the community. She was involved in Boy Scouts and was a Girl Scout leader for decades, even after her daughter left for college. Many of “her girls” kept in touch with her in their adult lives. Band was important to both of her children so she became the president of the Band Parents Association and spent each January working with the Bernards High students to design and paint the sets for Club Bernardo, as well as cooking the food for the hundreds of attendees on the nights of the performances.

After the high school years were over, Marie focused her volunteer efforts on The First Presbyterian Church of Bernardsville with exuberance. Serving as a Deacon she spearheaded the annual garage sale for many years and planned many of the functions, all while making life-long friendships with other congregants. Marie also helped the community at large with her commitment to The Bonafides of Somerset Hills, a women's club organized to enrich and improve the health, social, and civic welfare, often serving as an officer and coordinating many of their fund-raising and social events. Her friend Maureen said Marie’s cheerfulness lit up the meetings (even if she always arrived late).

Marie was always very proud of her work in local nursing homes and hospitals during her school years. When her children were in college, she extended this interest by taking an EMT course and scoring 105%, but was unable to physically serve because of back issues.

Later in life, Marie became involved with an organization that was not local – The Aberdeen Proving Grounds Ordnance Museum. The foundation’s mission is to obtain historically important weaponry. Marie was essential to all of the fund-raising activities and traveled quarterly to Maryland for board meetings.

Through all of these volunteering activities Cholly was always there to lend a hand because they were partners, but their favorite team pursuit was engaging in their shared passion for travel. They would drive the United States, sometimes for a month at a time, as well as enjoying Europe and Asia with their children and grandchildren or friends Bud and Carol. Marie and Cholly planned to visit all seven continents but were sidelined with health issues before they were able to cross Australia and Antarctica off their list. Marie’s liveliness made them many friends during these journeys. They never met a waiter they didn’t charm.

Although helping others was very important to Marie, family was her top priority and her greatest joy.

Marie passed into eternal peace on Sunday, February 16th, in the Bernardsville home she loved, escorted from this world by her loving family and faithful caregivers. She is survived by her husband and lifelong partner-in-crime, Cholly Steen, her devoted daughter, Valerie Zanardi (Paul), and six cherished grandchildren – Christopher, Catherine, Spencer, and Caroline Zanardi, as well as Jacquelyn and Charles “Buddy” Steen V. These grandchildren often reminisce about the weekends they would individually spend with “Mimi and Poppy” which were filled with favorite movies, art projects, bedtime story creations, and chocolate chip pancakes. Marie’s love for merriment will be missed by her sisters-in-law, Pam Davie (John) and Pat Klemmer (Norm). Her nephews, Rick (Carol) and Gary Bryan (Patricia), have many fond childhood memories of camping and bowling with their fun aunt and uncle. Her nieces were especially loved by Marie — Samantha McIntosh, Juliet Baysa, and Jessica Saulson Trafton.

Marie was preceded in death by her son, Charles “Butch” Steen IV (Laurie), as well as her parents, Raymond and Marie Bryan, her brothers, Donald (Shirley) and Lawrence Bryan, and sister-in-law Penny Steen.

Obituary of Charles Edwin Steen, IV "Butch"

Charles Edwin Steen IV, affectionately known by family and friends as Butch, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 27, 2024, at the age of 57, surrounded by his family at Morristown Memorial Hospital. Born on September 28, 1966, in Morristown, New Jersey, Charles grew up in Bernardsville before residing in Stirling for seven years, and for the past 21 years, in Warren, New Jersey.

After graduating from Bernards High School, Charles began his academic journey at Gettysburg College before transferring to The Hartt School, the performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford, where he earned his bachelor's degree in business with a minor in music. His time at The Hartt School allowed him to combine his love for music and business, which would go on to shape his early career in the music industry, working at RCA Records, Zomba, and Pope Records. While Charles initially pursued a career in the music industry, he ultimately made the thoughtful decision to join his father in the family business, Sarco, where he worked for 28 years. His choice was guided by a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to providing for his family, a role he embraced with dedication and care. 

Charles met the love of his life, Laurie Jean Yakabouski, in a serendipitous encounter while on a skiing trip in Vermont. He spotted Laurie watching a football game in a lodge at the resort and struck up a conversation by offering to buy her a coffee. Although their paths diverged that day without exchanging numbers, Charles, ever the romantic, made a bold and thoughtful gesture by contacting her at the hospital where she worked. This act of courage sparked a relationship that blossomed into a lifelong love. The two were married on October 4, 1997, at Shadowbrook in Red Bank, New Jersey.

Charles' faith was the guiding force of his life. Raised in the First Presbyterian Church of Bernardsville, where his own children were later baptized, his early experiences with the church fostered a lifelong connection to his faith. He continued to be deeply involved in church communities throughout his life, attending services at Stonecrest Church in Warren, Grace Calvary Church in Ship Bottom, and most recently, Greater Refuge Church in Plainfield. He was an active member of the men's group at his church, finding solace and strength in his spirituality and community.

Music was a passion that never faded for Charles. He played the saxophone and enjoyed performing with a band in his earlier years. In addition to his love for music, Charles was an avid golfer, a dedicated fan of the Dallas Cowboys, and a lover of skiing. He had a spirit of adventure and enjoyed traveling, especially by car and train, taking many memorable trips with his family. His large heart and playful nature made him a joy to be around, and he was often described as a "big kid" at heart.

Charles’ devotion to his family was unwavering. He often said, “Everything I do, I do for them,” a sentiment that truly reflected the way he lived his life. He was a loving and dedicated husband to Laurie Jean Steen, a proud father to Jacquelyn Steen and Charles Edwin Steen V, lovingly known as “Buddy,” and a cherished son to Charles Edwin Steen III and Marie (Bryan) Steen. His love extended to his sister, Valerie Zanardi, her husband Paul, and his nieces and nephews: Christopher, Catherine, Spencer, and Caroline Zanardi, as well as his sister-in-law Corinne Yakabouski and brother-in-law Matthew Yakabouski. His family was his greatest pride, and his heart was full with the love they shared.

Charles' kindness, generosity, and strong faith touched the lives of many, and his legacy will forever live in the hearts of those who were fortunate to know him. His final resting place will be at Somerset Hills Memorial Park in Basking Ridge, where his cremated remains will be interred in a private ceremony.

A visitation will be held on Friday, October 4, 2024, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ. A second visitation will be held as well on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m . viewing at Stonecrest Community Church, followed by a 12 PM funeral service at Stonecrest Community Church, 11 Technology Dr. N., Warren, NJ 07059. Cremation services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Charles' memory to Stonecrest Community Church, 11 Technology Dr. N., Warren, NJ 07059, or Grace Calvary Church, 1902 Long Beach Blvd., Ship Bottom, NJ 08008.

Charles will always be remembered as a man of deep faith, unwavering love for his family, and a heart full of kindness. His memory will forever bring comfort to those he loved, and his impact will live on in the lives he touched.