Maria "Geng" Pfefferkorn

Maria Pfefferkorn passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026, in Passaic, New Jersey. Born in Romania in 1931, she immigrated to the United States in 1950 and built a life centered on family and faith. She lived in Garfield before settling in Clifton, where she shared a loving marriage with her husband, the late Stephen Pfefferkorn.

Maria was the devoted mother of Joseph Pfefferkorn, John Pfefferkorn and his wife Anita, and Susanna Mujica and her husband Louis. She cherished her grandchildren—Joseph and his wife Stacy, Michael, Matthew and his wife Jaclyn, Andrew, Christina and her wife Alexandra, Geneva, and Lisa Mujica—and her eight great-grandchildren, who brought her great joy. She was the beloved sister of Teresa Haller and was predeceased by her brothers John and Stephen Geng and her sister Rose Stadler.

Before retiring, Maria worked for the Beecham Co. in Clifton and earlier for Yardley of London Co. in Totowa. A longtime parishioner of Holy Trinity R.C. Church in Passaic, she lived her Catholic faith through quiet generosity, offering help and wise counsel to those around her. She was an avid gardener whose spring flowers brought color and life to her home, and she was known for her exceptional baking and cooking, often sharing recipes and tips with her granddaughters.

Maria was a remarkable woman—hard-working yet easy-going, independent, and witty. Deeply devoted to her family, she remained the matriarch who stayed in touch with everyone, shared stories of her childhood, and was loved by neighbors, friends, and relatives alike.