Margaret Ruppert

Margaret Ruppert (nee Hanzl), age 79, of Upper Mount Bethel, PA, formerly of Clifton, NJ, passed away peacefully at home on March 3, 2018, one year to the day after the passing of her beloved husband of 57 years, Frank Ruppert. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Margaret was the dear mother of Frank Ruppert and Christine Zimmermann and her husband Joseph. She was a proud grandma to Joseph F. Zimmermann and his wife Dorothy Ann, Sarah Maginnis and her husband James, Daniel Zimmermann and his wife Annamarie, Matthew Ruppert and his wife Brielle, and Brian Ruppert. Most recently, Margaret enjoyed her newest role as doting great-grandma to James, Ryan, and Margaret Maginnis and Chiara Zimmermann. She was looking forward to welcoming her fifth great-grandchild in May.

Margaret is also survived by her brother-in-law Andrew Ruppert and his wife Maria and her sisters-in-law Elizabeth Dittrich, Maria Miko, Anna Huller, and Jacki Ruppert, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, John and Margaret (nee Marakovits) Hanzl and her brothers Walter and John Hanzl.

A 1956 graduate of Clifton High School and a 1960 graduate of Montclair State College, Margaret worked for many years as an English teacher and yearbook advisor at Pope Pius XII High School in Passaic, where she taught poetry through popular music and encouraged her students to develop their unique writers' voices. A testament to Margaret's passion for teaching and her unwavering belief in the potential of all children, many of her students kept in touch with her long after they graduated and she retired. Margaret started a family legacy in education; her daughter and four of her grandchildren are also educators.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 9 at 9:15 am from the Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, 1313 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton and 10:00 am at Holy Trinity Church, corner of Hope and Harrison St., Passaic, with entombment to follow at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum, Paterson. Visiting will be held on Thursday, March 8 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Holy Trinity R.C. Church, 226 Harrison St., Passaic, NJ 07055.