Obituary: Marilou Joziak

Marilou Theresa Joziak of South River, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends, on April 28, 2013 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She was 52. Her strength, courage, and determination will live on in all the lives she gracefully has touched.

Predeceased by her beloved parents, Edward and Esther (Sandy), she is survived by her longtime companion Shawn Haussermann of South River, brother Edward, niece Jaclyn, grand-niece Audrianna of Monroe Township and extended family.

Living in South River all of her life, Marilou graduated from Rutgers University with a BS Degree in Biology in 1983. For the past 28 years Marilou has worked for the Colgate-Palmolive Company at their Global Technology Center in Piscataway. She began her career in 1985 as a Sr. Laboratory Technician in the Advanced-Technology Oral Care section where she made several important contributions towards the development of Colgate's tartar control toothpaste products. In recognition of her achievements, she and the team were awarded the first Global Chairman You Can Difference Award.

In 1993 she moved to the Oral Care Professional Products group attaining her present position as Senior Technical Associate. Marilou developed and launched many successful toothpaste and mouthwash products for Colgate's Oral Pharmaceutical Division. She is the holder of 14 U.S. Grant Patents, authored 17 scientific publications and has presented at many leading industry-wide scientific conferences. She will be deeply missed by the colleagues and friends she has made during her distinguished career.  

An avid runner, she participated in many road races in NY, NJ and PA, including two New York Marathons.

She loved gardening, and spent her summers tending to her many flowers, and enjoying the songs of the flocks of birds who thrived at the many feeders in her backyard.  A lover of animals of all shapes and sizes, she dedicated herself to helping homeless cats and kittens through her Feline Homefinders rescue organization.

Funeral services will be held at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the Rezem Funeral Home, 457 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, followed by a 9:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church, South River.

Interment will follow at Washington Monumental Cemetery, South River. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday.

Memorial contributions may be made to her favorite animal assisting charities:  St. Hubert’s of Madison, NJ; Animal Ark of Reno, NV; and Associated Humane Societies Popcorn Park Zoo of Forked River, NJ.

For information, directions or to send condolences to family, visit www.rezemfh.com