Marcia Ann Ireland

Marcia Ann Jordan Raab Ireland of Ridgefield, NJ went home to be with the Lord April 22 at 11:16 am.

She is survived by her husband David L. Ireland, her husband’s children David S. Ireland, Jean Ireland, Jonathan and Nadja Ireland, Sharon and Rodney Gaughan, her grandchildren Emmaline, Madeline, Joshua, Ian, Anna, Maire, and Cairistiona. She is also survived by her first husband’s niece Elizabeth(Libby) & Gordon Sheffield and her best friend and fellow teacher in Bergenfield, NJ of many years, LoRae Fitzpatrick.

She is predeceased by her first husband Albert Edward Raab and her parents Theodore and Elsie Jordan of Ridgefield NJ.

Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle with Pastors Ken Durham and Jerry Ingalls officiating. Burial will follow in South Mound Cemetery, West Lawn addition. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be given to First Baptist Church, 709 S. Memorial Drive, New Castle, IN 47362.

NOTE: The main entrance of Hinsey-Brown on State Road 3 is OPEN DURING CONSTRUCTION. Please enter from the north side of construction.

Marcia Ann Jordan Rabb Ireland

In her own words…

If you knew Marcia, you know she could tell a story, and I can also confirm she loved to WRITE as well, leaving several unique written summary versions of her life story, as well as many very detailed travel diaries of all the places and things she saw along the way. The following is the best I can do to compile the several versions into one, keeping them in first person, as that’s how she wrote them.–Jonathan Ireland

Marcia was born at home on June 8, 1938 to Ted and Elsie Jordan in North Bergen, N.J.. After waiting 9 years through the depression, they had their baby girl, their only child…a child raised in a loving caring family at home and with aunts, uncles, and cousins. After living there for 3.5 years, they moved to Ridgefield, NJ, where she lived from 1942-1995.

It was a good and happy life in Ridgefield—a great town to grow up in—small classes in school, parks to play in, supervised PAL in teen years, friends to play with…Girl Scouts, Rainbow Girls, Junior Choir. The slight bump in the road was when I contracted Polio at the age of 7 and had to go to the county hospital where I was kept in isolation for 24 days. I missed Mom and Dad but thankfully there were no side effects.

Friends’ mothers looked out for us, especially Mrs. Hallbert who not only made me take cod liver oil my first and only time, but who asked me if I went to Sunday School. When Mom and Dad said I could go if I wanted to, she picked me up and took me to English Neighborhood Reformed Church (ENRC). From then on, Saturday night meant Mom or Dad checked my Sunday School lesson and made sure I was prepared with my Memory Verse. Sunday School, Camp, Choir, Church, Youth Group, Confirmation, Deacon, Elder, organist and choir director, and my marriage to Al, ENRC is where I first learned about God and Jesus Christ. It began a life of learning and growing in fellowship with God through Jesus as my Savior until my dying day.

We were bussed to Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, N.J., where I was in the marching band which played for every football game. The highlight though was being chosen for the Chansoneers, our mixed singing group. I loved music! It was at a roller-skating party for my friend’s 16th birthday that I met David Ireland. Our first date was to see seaplanes accompanied by his brother Paul. We dated for some time, then drifted apart, neither now recalling exactly why.

Around this time, the ENRC Sunday School superintendent Al Raab asked me if I would teach Sunday School. A few weeks into this and I knew I was called to be a teacher—I loved it! Al asked me out to dinner for my 18th birthday. I then told my girlfriend that I knew I was supposed to marry him, Al Raab, but he was 30 years old!!!

I graduated high school in 1956 and went to work as a clerk typist at Prentice Hall in N.Y.C., before they moved to Englewood cliffs. Shortly thereafter I began attending college nights at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J.. I went to a teens retreat at Hope College in Holland Michigan, fell in love with Hope, saved my money and at age 21 signed up as a student. I was a biology major and loved it. I did my sophomore year there, then, due to finances, went back to N.J. to finish at Jersey City State with an elementary (K-8) education degree in 1962. No way did I enjoy the 2-bus ride to get to JCSC! However, nowhere else could I have received better training to be a K-8 teacher.

Well prepared, I began teaching elementary grades at Franklin School in Bergenfield, N.J., and stayed there in grades K-2 until retirement in 1994. It was a great career. I did get my MA in Reading, plus 60 more credits, mostly in psychology. Time to stop taking courses: (It did raise my pay check though!) What a great experience teaching primary grade children…not a “job,” but a calling for 32 years of my life. So many rewards and pleasures…writing Kindergarten music curriculum with my best friend LoRae and Larry, working on the reading committee for years, and “Teacher of the Year” from our school in 1993. I truly loved teaching.

Al and I began dating when I began teaching. After our “short” courtship of ups and downs for 20 years (engaged in ’62, engagement broken in ’63, his moving to Indiana to be with his sister Audrey and her family-Ruel, Barbara and Libby, calling from there to talk about marriage again) we finally did get married in July of 1976. We got married to a full house at church, full of those who came “To see it to believe it!” What a wonderful marriage it was! Better than either of us expected. A life of love, trust, commitment, joy, of knowing Jesus as our Savior and guide of our lives. What more could we have asked for! He moved back to NJ and we lived in my family home with my Mom who had had 2 strokes. In September 1976, we buried my Mom from a third and final stroke. We attended ENRC, where we both had positions of deacons, then elders. Al was Financial Secretary. We sang in choir and taught Sunday School. When our organist retired, I filled in as organist and choir director.

Al and I retired to New Castle, Indiana— a time to leave our home, jobs, church, family and friends and to live near Audrey, Ruel, Barbara and Libby. A new life! We built our dream house and gardens, met new friends, an extended family, and a new Baptist church. A time of sharing for Al and me—in Sunday School, choir, Prayer Vigil sessions, B.O.B., and especially in our joint baptisms on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. God just kept blessing us over and over. He never stopped changing and leading our lives, even when we didn’t see it or know it at first.

All was great here until Al was diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia. Life went on but was not fun for several years. Finally, he had to be placed in Glen Oaks in the Memory Care section. A stroke finally caused his death on Valentine’s Day in 2010.

A few weeks later, David Ireland called to express his condolences and to tell me his wife Ellie had passed away Dec 2009. The thought went through my head “God, what are you up to?!” Well, David visited in June on his way back from an Air Force Reunion. We had many long phone calls, trips back and forth to N.J. meeting his family. In time, David and I were married in Jan 2011 in the chapel at FBC by Ken Durham. All of David’s 4 children, 7 Grandchildren, and Josiah and Joel Sledd were at the wedding. What a special Day!

We became members of 1st Baptist. The main calling I have there is the Prayer Committee. Singing in the choir is fun with the upbeat music. So is learning to play at Service once a month like I do. David and I attend Sunday School class. He helps out when the guys need help on repairs, putting in a ramp for a handicapped person, etc. We both enjoy the activities in our church.

We are blessed in so many ways. I am especially blessed to be a part of such a great and LARGE family now. What fun getting to know you all; lots more to learn.

If you remember me, remember that with all of life’s ups and downs, my life was filled with love from the very beginning, family love and God’s love. When I believed in Jesus’s love for me, He promised me eternal life in His presence. So, now you know where I really am… “Safe in the Arms of Jesus”. My hope is that I will see you too when God calls you home…saved by the love of Jesus Christ to eternal life with Him. So, think of me once in a while! Think of God always! And rejoice in life!

—Marcia

Marcia had spent over a year now in the kind and capable care of Glen Oaks, first for strength and stability rehab following some falls, then most recently Pneumonia, and finally suffered a stroke in the last few weeks rendering her unconscious. She passed away peacefully in hospice care there. We appreciate all the kind condolences.

—Jonathan, for the Ireland family.