Marilyn Zirl

Marilyn L. Zirl, 85, of West Orange died April 22, 2018. Born in Newark, she grew up in West Orange, and lived in Livingston for 55 years. 

Mrs. Zirl was initially a French and English teacher at West Orange High School and later taught French and homebound students in Livingston. She then enjoyed a career as a synagogue administrator at Oheb Shalom Congregation in South Orange, and at the Jewish Community Center of Fort Lee. She retired last June after spending nearly 16 years as the administrator of the Sister Rose Thering Fund at Seton Hall University, where she helped raise awareness and funds for educating teachers and high school students about the Holocaust.

She attended Cornell University and graduated with a bachelor of arts from Barnard College and a master of arts from Teachers College, Columbia University. 

She had been active in the Livingston League of Women Voters and the Livingston PTA and was the first woman president of Oheb Shalom Congregation. She also volunteered to teach English as a second language to Chinese students.

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Predeceased by her husband, Freddy, she is survived by her daughter, Barbara; her son, David (Lisa); and three grandchildren.

Services were held April 25 with arrangements by Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, Livingston. Memorial contributions may be made to Sister Rose Thering Fund for Education in Jewish-Christian Studies or Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.