Maryann Elizabeth Kiesel

Maryann Elizabeth Kiesel passed away peacefully in San Diego, California, on August 8, 2024, at the age of 89. She was the beloved wife of Robert Joseph Kiesel, with whom she shared an incredible 59 years of marriage. Maryann will be dearly missed by her five forever grateful children, and their families: Robert Kiesel, Jr., of San Diego, CA, Jim Kiesel (Debbie) of Marietta, GA, Angel King (Kim) of Rutherfordton, NC, Larry Kiesel (Donna) of Millstone, NJ, and Martin Kiesel (Stephanie) of San Diego, CA. She will be lovingly remembered by her cherished grandchildren: Christy Kiesel Fabre (Scott), Heidi Kiesel Clark (Dustin), Taylor McInnis (Madison), David King, Mackenzie Kiesel (fiancé, Jonathan), and Nicholas Kiesel. She adored her four great-grandchildren: Mandi Fabre and Aspen, Ozzy and Rudy Clark. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Maryann was born to James Francis and Ruth Allten Murray on October 10, 1934, in East Orange, New Jersey. Growing up in Newark and both South and East Orange, NJ, she had fond childhood memories of playing with her beloved cousin Bill Morgan, adored brother Jim, and dear childhood friends. Maryann began her career as a research chemist at Ciba Pharmaceutical Products in Summit, NJ, after earning her Bachelor of Science degree at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale, New York. At Ciba, Maryann met her husband, Bob, and they fell in love. After devoting many years to raising their children, she began her second career in the real estate business, serving the majority of that career as Vice President of McCullough Relocation Services in Basking Ridge, NJ.

Maryann and her husband Bob raised their five children in Chester, NJ, becoming long-time, faithful members of St. Joseph’s Parish in Mendham, NJ. She was very active in the Parish community and enjoyed singing in the choir. Maryann centered her life around her children and spent countless hours and days ushering them back and forth to their sporting events and other activities. She loved spending her summers at their cottage on the Long Island Sound in Bayville, NY, where she could be found floating in an inner tube, entertaining guests, or just sitting on the beach with her mother under an umbrella.

Whether it was her beloved New York Yankees or her grandchildren's games, Maryann loved to watch sports. She was an avid letter writer, always in script, and was not shy about clipping newspaper articles that may be of interest to her family and sending them to whatever state they were living in at that time, always with a note attached. Maryann loved to read and probably read a “million” books in her lifetime. She also enjoyed swimming, boating, traveling, solving crossword puzzles, and music. While living in San Diego over the past 15 years, Maryann was a faithful member of both St. Mary Magdalene Church and the Mission San Diego de Alcala.

Friends and family members describe Maryann as a family-centered, kind, generous, and loving woman who was always there for everyone. She will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her forever.

A funeral mass will be held Friday, August 16, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Church in San Diego, CA. Burial will be at 2:00 Friday afternoon at Mt. Hope Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Scripps Alzheimer’s Research. Thank you for your kindness!