Obituary of Maria C Meskers

Maria C. Meskers, 87, of Toms River, NJ, passed away peacefully at home, on Friday, January 5, 2024. Maria was born and raised on her family tulip farm in Vogelenzang, The Netherlands. She married in 1961 and immigrated to the United States, first to Waldwick, NJ, then to Upper Saddle River, NJ, where she raised her family. For the past twenty years she has resided in Toms River where she made many friends and enjoyed a very active social life. She was most happy when surrounded by her daughter and son, and their families, including six grandchildren, all of whom she adored. Maria began her career as a fashion designer in Amsterdam. She brought her talents as a seamstress with her to the United States, where she continued to design and sew clothing for the decades that followed. Maria had a passion for following the financial markets, politics and current events. She was well known in all the places she lived for her beautiful gardens. She loved dining and traveling with friends and family. Most of all, she enjoyed being a mother and grandmother.

Maria had a long, happy life filled with many friends and a family that adored her. She enjoyed the company of friends and strangers, chatting and laughing with everyone she met, Maria always found fun in everything she did.

Maria was preceded in death by her parents Johannes and Maria Van Haaster, her former husband, Cornelius J. Meskers, Sr., her infant son, John, and her siblings, Dick Van Haaster, Agaath Uitendaal, Johan Van Haaster, Nicolaas Van Haaster, Anne Meskers and Carla Zandbergen. She is survived by her son, Casey Meskers and his wife, Claire-Anne of Easton CT, her daughter Jackie Torres and her husband, Leonard of Morganville, NJ, and six grandchildren, Erin, Juliet and Patrick Meskers, and Nicholas, Kaitlyn and James Torres.      

Friends and family are invited to visit on Thursday, January 11th, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at Freeman Manalapan Marlboro Funeral Home, 344 Route 9 North. A memorial mass will be held at St. Gabriel's Church, 100 N. Main Street, Marlboro, NJ on Friday at 11:00 AM. To leave a condolence or find directions, please visit www.freemanfuneralhomes.com