Marcia Rike Reardan, 95

August 10, 1927 - July 13, 2023

Marcia R. Reardan (nee Rike) passed away peacefully at her residence in Lancaster (Willow Street) PA, on July 13, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Marcia was born on 8/10/27 in East Orange, New Jersey. An “army brat”, she lived in and attended school in 15 states before graduating from Delray Beach HS in Florida in 1945. She went on to study at the University of Chicago, graduating at age 19 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.

Marcia is survived by her children, Ruth Salomone of Westfield, NJ, and Clifford W. Johnston, Jr., of Reidsville, NC and his wife, Dawn. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Laura Marcia Geftic, her husband, Michael; Evan Alexander Fernandez and his wife, Kristen, and respective great grand-children, Julia Sage Geftic, Maximilian Paul Geftic, and Hailey Anne Fernandez.

Also surviving are Clifford’s children Justin Anthony Gray, his wife Danielle, Kevin Grant Miller, his fiancée Jess Wall, and Kyle Esser Johnston; great grandchildren, Skyler Gray, Ethan Gray, Aidan Gray and Anna Gray Dailey, Ireland Gray, Liam Gray and Conner Gray, Reagann Miller, Ryann Miller and Wyatt Miller, and five great-great grandchildren, as well as numerous close friends at the Willow Valley Retirement Community, most notably her dear friend, Susan Donley.

Marcia is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Edwin D. Reardan, her ex-husband Clifford W. Johnston, and her son-in-law, Paul Salomone.

Marcia had many professional and personal achievements to her credit, including retiring in 1992 as Vice President of J. G. Mulford Company of Westfield NJ, board member of the Executive Women of NJ, American Association of University Women, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Urban Ministry of the First United Methodist Church of Westfield.

A brilliant, engaging and erudite woman, well-versed in classic literature and poetry, she became a master competitor in Duplicate Bridge and was working on “life master” status until Covid interrupted tournament competition in 2020. She was an active member of the Community Players of Westfield and appeared in several theatrical productions, including a starring role in the “Man from La Mancha”, Gilbert and Sullivan’s “HMS Pinafore” and the “Mikado”, as well as other musical productions such as “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”, “Hello Dolly” and “Ben Franklin in Paris”. Marcia sang soprano with the Sanctuary Choir of the Methodist Church for 32 years under Directors, Phillip Dietterich and Trent Johnson, and with the Masterwork Chorus for 9 years under Conductor, David Randolph. She also enjoyed singing with the “Extension Chords” barbershop quartet, the Shaker Singers, Oratorio Singers, and the Berkshire Chorus at Canterbury Cathedral.

A memorial service honoring the life of Marcia Reardan will be held Saturday, August 12, 2023, at 10:00 am at First United Methodist Church of Westfield, One East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ 07090.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Willow Valley Lakes, 300 Willow Valley Lakes Drive, Willow Street, PA 17584, with luncheon to follow in the small dining room.

In lieu of Flowers, donations would be gratefully appreciated by the JDRF Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, St. Jude
“Common Sense for Animals”, of Stewartsville, NJ, Common Sense for Animals
or other charity of your choice.