Mary Sue Molnar, 79, educator served on school board
January 6, 2022
Mary Susan Margaret Howe Molnar, 79, of Pawleys Plantation died Dec. 24, 2021. She was 79.
Known as Mary Sue, she was born Aug. 21, 1942, in Hempstead, N.Y., the oldest of three children of Margaret and Quentin Howe. She graduated from Morristown High School in Morristown, N.J. After graduating from St. Lawrence College, she worked as an English teacher in Westfield, N.J. After her two sons were old enough to attend school, Mrs. Molnar returned to work first at the Hanover Avenue School in Morristown and subsequently for more than a decade at the Morristown High School guidance department as a secretary and registrar.
After school was out, she could often be found helping her husband, Tom, at Molnar Pharmacy, conversing with friends, playing tennis or bridge or steadfastly cheering on her two sons in hockey rinks or track or cross country meets almost anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic. She enjoyed flowers, gardening and had a special touch for decorating her home.
Mrs. Molnar also served on the Borough of Morris Plains Board of Education when her sons were in school.
Upon her husband’s retirement from the pharmacy in 2003, the Molnars moved to Pawleys Island. Finding the weather much more to her liking, Mrs. Molnar took up golf and made many new friends through her community and church, Precious Blood of Christ. She loved her family and friends, and found tremendous support from them when Mr. Molnar required a lung transplant several years ago.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Tim Molnar (Teri) of Mendham, N.J., and Dennis Molnar (Dr. Beth Mayland) of Hopkinton, N.H.; seven grandchildren; her sister, Elisabeth Palmer of Woodstock, N.J.; her brother, Kevin Howe of Virgil, N.Y.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life and memorial mass will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).
