Michael F. Newell Jr.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord. (Psalm 128. 3-4) Michael Frances Newell was born September 5th, 1920, named after his father Michael, a Philadelphia policeman. Both his mother , Ellen (Cannon) Newell and father immigrated from Ireland, and met and married in Philadelphia. Mike had nine siblings, five of whom followed a calling into religious orders. He graduated from West Catholic High in 1938 and served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1945, rising to the rank of Lieutenant before being honorably discharged in July of 1945. Immediately upon his return from the Pacific, Mike married the love of his life, Mary (Voeglin) Newell on August 31, 1945. Mike and Mary welcomed six children into their home on Unruh Avenue in North Philadelphia, while Mike completed his B.S in Accounting from LaSalle University. They moved to Pennsauken, NJ and added five more children to the family, eleven in all. Mike was a cheerful man and a great listener, which allowed him to excel in his sales profession of over 45 years at Dennison Manufacturing Company. He worked tirelessly to support his family, and cheerfully embraced the extra responsibilities of raising a large family, which at times included taking on night and weekend jobs. Mike was especially attentive to Mary, his wife of 52 years, and faithfully supported her endeavors as she developed a passion for art and learning. Because of Mary’s fragile health, Mike increasingly took on more of the cooking, cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping responsibilities, and became a silent but powerful example of willing service and sacrifice to all of his children. Mike was a deeply spiritual man, committed to living and sharing the principles of the Cursillo movement, whose intent is to develop a deeper spiritual commitment to God. He also served in the Kiros Prison Outreach Ministry. In his later years, as a widower, Mike became a beloved member of his community and was known by grade school, middle school and high school students in Haddon Township, NJ. “Mike and Molly” (the dog!) were a daily source of joy and delight to the many children who trooped through Paul and Susan Newell’s house through the years. He was known to his 27 grandchildren as “Granpere”, and was a very active and engaged grandparent, attending countless plays, sporting events, graduations and birthday celebrations. Mike continued to imbue his children and grandchildren with his deep convictions about economic and racial equality, ecological responsibility and service to others. He was constantly cutting out articles and sending them throughout the family, often following up with a phone call saying, “Hey, did you get that article I sent you?” Even in his later years, Mike remained deeply concerned about the future of his family, his church and his country. Through all, Mike led a full, holy, and impactful life, and all of us who knew him were greatly blessed. 18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart. Ecclesiastes 5. 18-20 Michael F. Newell, Jr. Born September 5, 1920, Died May 19th, 2014 Beloved husband of the late Mary (nee Voeglin) Newell, and father of Michael (Nadia) Newell, Monica Armstrong, Christopher (Maryanne) Newell, Mary Frances (Salvatore) Gambino, Valerie (Steven) Johnson-Timm, Mark (Tanna) Newell, Paul (Susan) Newell, Matthew (Carol) Newell, Stephen (Mary) Newell, Andrew (Suzanne) Newell and Patrice (Newell) LaTreche. Beloved Granpere to 27 grandchildren and 1 grandchild. Predeceased by siblings Marie Newell SSJ, Eleanor (Newell) Hophkes, Dorothea Newell SSJ, Rev. Joseph Newell SJ, James Newell, and granddaughter Shannon E. Newell. Survived by Catherine Newell SSJ and Ann Newell IHM. A Memorial Gathering will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2014 from 6-9PM at Holy Savior Church, 50 Emerald Ave, Westmont NJ. A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, May 23, 2014 at 11AM at Holy Savior Church. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sisters of St. Joseph, 1301 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA 19031 or by visiting sistersofstjosephfederation.org or to Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 2300 Adams Ave, Scranton PA18509.

Michael F. Newell Jr.

September 5, 1920 - May 19, 2014