Obituary of Margaret "Marge" Miale

Margaret “Marge” Miale, passed on Thursday, September 14 in her home at 94 years young. She was the last survivor of her seven siblings and their spouses. Born to John & Joetta Woodburn, in Somers Point, New Jersey, she later lived with her husband & family in Runnemede before moving to Lawrence Township in the early 60s. She was a life-long educator, always putting in practice her thirst for learning. She received her BA at NJ State Teacher’s College at Glassboro (now Rowan University), was out in the field teaching within 3 years, as a second grade teacher at the New York Avenue School in Linwood, NJ. Glassboro liked what she was doing and brought her back to be their teacher in the college’s Demonstration Classroom. When she married Joseph Miale (d. 2006) and started a family, her spirit of education continued in the home with their children. Once they were older she started the 4-H Exploring Nature Club and soon had Joe involved. Through the club they hosted informative environmental and nature programs for the public at a time when environmental awareness was growing and people were hungry to learn. The couple taught at nature-craft seminars for educators, and played a part in the Mercer County 4-H Fair with the club. The club expanded as an umbrella club with more skills clubs led by colleagues. Marge was a go getter and made the phone calls that persuaded the MCIA and the Princeton Sierra Club onto a debate stage together, ultimately keeping a landfill out of Bakers Basin swamp. She volunteered at Bowan’s Hill Nature Preserve and led nature walks there with Joe. In her midlife Marge was excited about returning to College and got an Associates Degree in Horticulture at Mercer County Community College, where she also studied Ceramics, potting for over 20 years. In her lifetime she also took up the guitar, autoharp, fitness, storytelling, and watercolors as well as Spanish & Italian languages. Marge Assisted at a local Montessori School for 17 years, coming home with endless stories sharing her delight in her young students. Many of her students and club members continued to stay in touch as they got older and spoke about how much she’d inspired them. Marge created nature-crafts, along with her beautiful watercolor cards and ceramics, and sold them locally at a gift shop and with her husband at festivals. She was a founding member of the Garden Gate Garden Club of Lawrence (50 years and counting today!), and led the Junior Garden Club. There and in all of her clubs Marge contributed countless hours in many leadership roles. She was an avid member at Lawrence Senior Center where she and Joe enjoyed dancing, and socializing, and volunteering through Club Five. Marge is survived by three children and two grandchildren: Joanne Miale, Joseph and wife Claudia Miale and their son Caio Posner, and Ruth Miale and her daughter Natalie Sicroff, who was a big part of her life. Calling hours will be Tuesday September 26, 2023 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and again on Wednesday morning from 10-10:30AM at the Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. In honor of Marge’s love of color and gardens - come dressed in kind (and leave your best black in your closet for your next night out! ♥) A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday morning at 11:00AM at The Church of St. Ann at 1253 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville. NJ 08648. Interment will be held promptly at 1:00PM at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Provinceline Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562. I In lieu of flowers, contributions in Marge’s memory could be made to: Mercer County 4-H, designate ‘for Environmental Youth Programs’, mail to Mercer County 4-H 1440 Parkside Ave, Ewing, NJ 08638 or to Lawrence Twp. Environmental Education Foundation Inc., specify ‘in dedication of Marge Miale for the butterfly garden’ mailing PO Box 6801, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648.