Marjorie H. Maxwell

February 9, 1940 – June 6, 2021

---

Marjorie Ann Halloran was born to Marjorie Ann and Bernard Halloran on February 9^th 1940 in New Haven, Connecticut. Margie had an unquenchable thirst for her father’s love, I remember my mom telling me about listening to then President Harry S Truman’s radio addresses, although my mother was only 5 to 8 years old at the time she remembered talking politics and the well being of our country with her dad after the address was over (one of her fondest memories of her father).

Marjorie’s father died in July of 1948 at a very young age when my mother was only 8 years old (1948) and this was a devastating point in her life.  Ironically; it was also one of her proudest points in her life. Marjorie’s brother Robert Edward Halloran was born on January 3rd 1948; six months previous to her father’s passing. Margie had to grow up very quickly, since her mother was a homemaker and mother to her two children. It was a difficult time in life for Margie’s mom as she was devastated by her husband’s death and needed a lot of help raising her younger brother affectionately known as Bobby.

Margie was brought up Roman Catholic and attended Parochial for all primary and secondary schooling (St. Mary’s).  Later on in her life she decided to go back to school to receive her Associates in Science in “Child Care” from Mattatuck Community College in 1975. Additionally, Margie earned her Bachelor Degree in “Early Education” from the University of Bridgeport in 1980. Marjorie was very proud of the fact that she financed her education solely by herself. The degree took many years attending night school and working full time, but Marjorie was a tenacious women and smart as a whip scoring straight A’s throughout.

Marjorie met her 1^st husband Milan V Dujnic at a dance in 1957 at a local dance hall at the YMCA where she quickly fell in love. After a short courting they were married in 1958 and in 1959 they had their 1^st born Terry Ann Dujnic, they were residing in New Jersey at the time.

In 1964 Marjorie and Milan (Mel) had their second child Mark Russell Dujnic and moved to the countryside in Newtown, Connecticut and lived together as a couple until their separation in 1976.

Marjorie was a great believer in equal rights and justice in fact she took part in the civil rights movement where she marched/protested in Washington DC toting her very young son, she believed whole heartily it was the right thing to do! Margie was always politically active and always championed a righteous cause.

In moving back to Connecticut where she grew up she decided to pursue her career in early education landing her 1^st educational job at a daycare center in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Margie thrived in enriching young minds and never looked back. Marjorie landed her forever Job shortly after that at the “Children’s Adventure Center” in Newtown, Connecticut, eventually becoming the Director where she ran the Day Care Center for many years. Marjorie became a pillar of the community leading her to be selected as “Women of Year” for Newtown, Connecticut. She was also well connected at the state level; being personal friends with Governor Ella Grasso among other notable politicians in Connecticut. Margie remained in Connecticut until she retired to Arizona to be near her children and grandchildren.

In the late seventies Marjorie met her second love of her life, Ralph Maxwell and they met ironically at a discotheque night club (Margie loved to dance) and married after a short courtship. They lived in Naugatuck, Connecticut for many years until their separation in the mid-eighties. Marjorie and Ralph created many memories at her favorite spot in the whole wide world “Block Island”, Rhode Island.

Marjorie was a great lover of music; in fact she attended the very 1^st Woodstock in Bethel, New York 1969, returning back 25 years later in 1994 with her dear friend Susan Schleifer; daughter to her best friend and confidant Jean Schleifer and she had the time of her life once again. Margie’s taste in music was of what is now known as “classic rock”; she even attended concerts to include Peter Paul and Mary, Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd and Ziggy Marley to mention a few… Margie truly enjoyed life to the fullest! Margie even bungee jumped in her sixties, truly a fearless women.

Marjorie semi-retired in Mesa, Arizona keeping herself busy, working in a custodial capacity at “Leisure World” a retirement community in Mesa, AZ. She always enjoyed keeping busy and staying fit for as long as her body would allow (chronic back problems), however  she would cleverly devise ergonomic positioning to allow her to get done whatever she was determined to do (yard work, moving furniture, housework etc.).

Marjorie was a proud Irish woman that would do anything for family, and God help the ones who crossed that line! Her Irish heritage and family meant the world to her; those were always the center of her mind along with her Religious beliefs.

Marjorie has passed on to a greater place and will never be forgotten, she leaves behind;  her daughter Terry Feher, her son Mark Dujnic, Terry’s children Karinne and Holly and Mark and Jessica’s children Dusty, Star and Devin.

We shall love and miss you always Ma, we will see you later!

OXOXOXOXOXO

A visitation will be held on Thursday June 17, 2021 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a rosary beginning at 6:00 p.m.  A funeral service will follow on Friday June 18, 2021 at 10:00 am.  Both the visitation and funeral will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, 7900 E. Main St., Mesa, AZ, 85207.

Memorial donations may be made to Feed my Starving Children at Https://give.fmsc.org/team/361761