In Memoriam: Longtime Fair Havenite Madeline Muise, 81

Longtime Fair Havenite Madeline Muise passed away peacefully at her Fair Haven home, surrounded by her loving family, on May 5. She was 81.

A Fair Haven resident since 1972, “Madeline’s life was marked by a deep commitment to family and friends, compassion for others and community. Madeline was always keen for an adventure and a lifelong learner. Community was dear to Madeline; she was a member of AAUW for over fifty years, where she made some of her dearest friends. Madeline and her husband Dick loved to sail and enjoyed their time engaged in activities at the Shrewsbury River Yacht Club. They enjoyed cruising their sailboat, Wave Dancer, in the summers covering the coast from Long Island Sound to Maine. They chartered and sailed numerous times in the British Virgin Islands with family and friends.

“Madeline was a student of Angeles Arrien, a well-known cultural anthropologist focusing on the common elements of early people. As part of her many trips to New Mexico, she became very interested in the Navajo culture and art.

“Madeline was an artist herself and enjoyed sculpting, painting, and capturing scenes from her travels in pastels. Madeline also loved nature, managing a beautiful garden at home as well as enjoying the many visiting birds at her feeders.

“Madeline will be dearly missed but fondly remembered by all of those whose lives she touched and enriched.”
Loved ones of Madeline Muise in her obituary

More about Madeline …

Madeline was born on Feb. 10, 1943, in Albany, NY, to William L. and Margaret Hoffman Riley. The eldest of three children, she graduated from the College of Saint Rose in Albany with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish.

Madeline had a passion for the arts and music and excelled in drama, forensics and piano in high school and college. After college, Madeline moved to Boston where she met her beloved husband of 59 years, Richard W. Muise. Madeline and Richard shortly thereafter moved to Fair Haven in 1972, “where they made a beautiful home and raised their daughters Deborah Moore and Pamela Kane.

“Madeline dedicated her lifelong work to helping individuals, couples and families find renewed meaning, purpose and joy in their lives.” She received a master’s degree in social work from Rutgers University and went on to have a long and fulfilling career as a mediator and marriage and family therapist.

In private practice at Mediation & Therapy Associated, Madeline was known for her work with families experiencing divorce and was passionate about supporting and empowering families. She never retired, found joy in her work and was happily talking to her clients to the very end.

Madeline loved to travel and explore other cultures. Madeline and Dick traveled extensively together with some of their favorite trips being New Mexico, Yellowstone, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Ireland, France, England, Spain, Greece, China, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Madeline was predeceased by: her parents, William and Magaret Riley; and her nephew, Patrick Riley.

She is survived by: her husband, Richard Muise, of Fair Haven; her children, Deborah Moore (Erik), of Atlanta, GA, Pamela Kane, of Oceanport, and Jamie Heenehan (Paula) of Apalachin, NY; siblings, Jean Riley, of New Amsterdam, NY, and John Riley (Diane), of Albany, NY; grandchildren, Justin Moore (Katie), of Raleigh, NC, Sophie Moore, of Washington, DC, Travis Heenehan, of Charlotte, NC, and Monica Heenehan, of Johnson City, NY; and five beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 1, at 11 a.m. at St. George’s- by-the-River Episcopal Church, 7 Lincoln Ave, Rumson, NJ 07760. In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider donating to the University of Pennsylvania Pulmonary Department or the Visiting Nurses Association in New Jersey in Madeline’s name.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home