Marie H. "Mari" (nee Heenan) O'Brien , 82, passed away peacefully at home on August 1, 2024, surrounded by family.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, she was the daughter of Edward Heenan and Jane (Nugent) Heenan. She went to elementary school on the US Air Force Base in Wiesbaden, Germany and later attended Gwynedd Mercy Academy and earned a scholarship to Chestnut Hill College. Mari was the eldest of nine children, which catapulted her at very young age to become a natural leader, attentive caretaker, and consummate homemaker.

She and her husband Obie fell in love as teenagers and went on to share 61 years of marriage, five children, countless friendships and a lifetime of adventure and of – as their daughter Kelly would put it – "paying it forward."

Mari possessed a razor-sharp wit, a whimsical style, and a bracingly direct, occasionally outrageous form of communicating. A lifelong learner, she was a voracious reader, worldwide traveler and an absolute ringer at the game show Jeopardy!

She was a fierce competitor on the tennis court, and in games of any sort, from charades to cards to Clue. She enjoyed playing golf, and shot not one, but two, hole-in-ones in her lifetime.

Mari was generous with her time and energy and loved giving gifts, especially to children. Whether it was your emblazoned monogram or a gift reflecting a passion she knew you harbored, Mari's gifts had a way of making you feel unique and special: she had picked this out JUST for you.

She was an active member of every community she belonged to and volunteered for countless organizations: she was a baby cuddler at her local NICU and volunteered at The Illinois Children's Home and Aid Society of Chicago. Together with Obie, she was a Guardian Ad Litem in Savannah, Georgia, where the couple became trained child advocates, working directly with at-risk youths in the family court system. She and Obie also joined volunteers to regularly welcome troops home at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah.

Mari's love and devotion to Obie was an inspiration to others. The pair created fun and friendships from Philadelphia to Lake Forest, Illinois, Tampa, Florida, Savannah, Georgia, and points in between. She and Obie loved travel, movies, games, watching sports, and -- more than anything – opening their home to friends and family and making them feel loved and welcomed. Their golden years were spent in Avalon, NJ in their "Miracle on 34th Street" whose "open door policy" meant that friends and members of their big Irish families – grandkids, cousins, siblings, nieces, nephews -- were always coming and going. All were welcome at Pop and Grand's.

She is survived by her sister Jill Mull, brothers Kevin, Brian, and Jack Heenan, children Charles III "Obie", Tracy Hudash (Ron), Terry (Meg), Erin Dugery (David), 18 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, brother and sister in-laws, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Obie, daughter, Kelly Rooney (Sean), brother Col. Michael Heenan, sisters, Constance Heenan, Patricia Heenan and Sharon Galbally.

Relatives and friends are invited on Friday, August 9th, Visitation 10 A.M. with Funeral Mass 11 A.M. at St. Margaret Church, 208 N. Narberth Ave., Narberth, PA. Burial private.

In lieu of flowers, you may honor Mari's memory by taking your family out for waffles and bacon.