Marguerite Elizabeth D'Andrea

Marguerite D’Andrea of Olney, Maryland passed away at Brooke Grove Nursing Center, on February 12, 2021 after a long battle with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Marguerite was born on October 2, 1950 in Astoria, New York, to proud parents, Edward Joseph and Marguerite Patricia Friedman. As the Friedman family grew to include Patricia, Kathleen and Edward, the family headed to East Rockaway, New York. During her childhood, Marguerite was given nicknames, Mug or Mugs, as her siblings and cousins had trouble pronouncing her name. Luckily, as she grew to become a young woman, her more popular nickname with family and friends became Marge. Marguerite attended St. Raymond’s Catholic Grammar School, was an ardent learner and quickly made friends. Marguerite’s mother passed on her love of poetry to her oldest daughter, so as a young girl she started to write her own poetry. Her favorite poets were Edna St. Vincent Millay, Emily Dickenson and William Butler Yeats. Marguerite loved to learn, and spent hours helping her sisters and brother develop good study habits. She always had a good sense of humor and liked to play board games like Clue and Monopoly with her siblings. Summer days were often spent at local beaches on Long Island with her family and friends. As a teenager Marguerite liked to hang-out in her room and listen to Joni Mitchell records with her life-long friend Debbie, while they dreamed their respective dreams. One of her dreams was to be a teacher, she always loved children, so it was a natural fit. After graduating from East Rockaway High School in 1968, she attended college, taking classes at Molloy College and Hofstra University. After marriage to Michael D’Andrea, the family moved to and discovered a new city to explore, Philadelphia. She was over-joyed when she gave birth to her first son, Michael. Later the family moved to Olney, Maryland where her second son, Joseph was born. Along the way, Marge continued to learn, teach and make many new friends. Marge loved to cook and was very creative. She loved to decorate her home, especially during Christmas, stockings and decorations for the tree were always home-made. Marguerite expanded her passion for teaching at Children in the Shoe in Olney, MD. She loved all the children she taught, was admired by fellow teachers and parents during her career at the learning center. Marge was also one of the first managers at the Olney 9 Cinemas when it opened in 1988. For 20-years, she greeted local customers by name and mentored countless teenage employees. As her sons grew and left home for their respective journeys, she would always smile with pride when she talked about Mike and Joey. Once grandchildren Vincent, Leo, and Sophia arrived, her life seemed complete. She enjoyed time with her family, loved being a grandmother and even traveled to Hawaii to visit Joey, his wife Waiza and their beautiful daughter Sophia. Sadly, after being diagnosed with ALS, Marge had to retire from teaching, sell her home and move to Brooke Grove. Marguerite is survived by her sons Michael Patrick (Lindsay) and Joseph Desmond (Waiza); her sisters Patricia and Kathleen, brother Edward (Deborah), nephew Danny, niece Amanda (Edward Sr.), grandchildren Vincent, Leo and Sophia, and great-nephews Edward Jr. and Jake. A Catholic Mass will be held at St. Patrick’s Church, Olney, Maryland. Mass attendance will be limited to a small gathering of family and friends. A celebration of Marguerite’s life will be held virtually on Thursday, February 18th at 7pm ET by invitation. Please email mikedandrea1@yahoo.com if you wish to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now Marguerite’s favorite poem by Wm. Butler Yeats: He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim of the dark cloths Of night and light and the half-light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.